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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE  PASSOVER 


The  Passover 


(AN  INTERPRETATION) 


By 
Clifford  Howard 

Author  of  "Sex  Worship:  An  Exposition  of  the  Phallic  Organs 

of  Religion;"    "The  Story  of  a  Young  Man;  A  Life  of 

Christ;"    "Did  Jesus  Live  in  Nazareth?"  etc. 


R.  F.  Fen  no  &  Company 
18  East  Seventeenth  Street,  New  York 


COPYRIGHT.  1910 
BY   R.    F,    FENNO    &   COMPANY 


The  Passover 


Jf 


"...    but  was  in  all 
points  tempted  like  as  we  are." 


631946 


The    Passover 


"Lord,  I  cry  unto  Thee. 
Make  haste  unto  me. 
Give  ear  to  my  voice  when  I  cry  unto 
Thee." 

The  young  woman  in  the  garden 
started  from  her  reverie  and  listened. 

The  lengthened  shadows  of  late  after- 
noon overspread  the  eastern  slope  of 
Mount  Olivet  and  cast  into  refreshing 
shade  the  white-stone  village  of  Beth- 
any. Though  the  blush  of  orchard 
blossoms  that  mantled  the  hillside  in 
tremulous  tints  of  rose  and  pink  beto- 
kened the  cradling  of  spring,  the  day 

9 


The  Passover 

had  shone  with  unseasonable  warmth 
beneath  a  parching  breath  from  the 
valley  of  the  Dead  Sea.  But  with  the 
shades  of  approaching  eventide  the  east 
wind  had  died  away,  and  in  its  place 
there  came  now  a  gentle  breeze  from 
the  southwest,  stirring  the  trees  with 
cooling  promise  of  rain.  And  as  it 
fanned  the  sequestered  garden  which 
lay  within  the  enclosure  of  one  of  the 
village  homes  it  carried  with  it  ever 
and  anon  the  notes  of  a  hymn — a 
quavering,  improvised  chant,  sung  in 
monotonous  refrain. 

The  voice  was  that  of  a  woman  mov- 
ing back  and  forth  across  the  shrub- 
bery-hidden courtyard  of  the  house, 
busied  with  her  preparation  of  the  even- 
ing meal.  After  the  manner  of  the 
Jewish  housewife,  she  was  singing  to 
herself  at  intervals  as  she  worked; 
10 


An  Interpretation 

choosing  her  lines  at  random  from  her 
favorite  Psalms : 

"Hear  my  prayer,  0  Lord; 
And  let  my  cry  come  unto  Thee. 
Hide  not  Thy  face  from  me  in  the 
day  I  am  troubled." 

She  who  was  listening  within  the 
garden  clasped  her  hands  in  sud- 
den fervency.  Above  her  spread  the 
branches  of  a  flowering  olive  tree,  and 
leaning  forward  upon  the  broad  stone 
bench  on  which  she  was  seated,  her 
arms  resting  upon  her  knees,  she  lifted 
her  gaze  to  heaven  through  the  patulous 
bower  of  blossoms. 

Her  blue  cloak  of  soft  woolen  fabric, 
with  its  girdle  of  linen  twice  circling 
her  waist  in  ample  folds,  was  draped 
loosely  about  her  girlish  figure.  In  the 
abandon  of  her  solitude  it  had  slipped 
11 


The  Passover 

unheeded  from  her  shoulder  and  re- 
vealed now  beneath  her  open  tunic  a 
throat  and  breast  tremulent  with  im- 
pulsive tears.  A  stray  lock  of  hair,  es- 
caping from  the  fillet  of  burnished  fili- 
gree that  bound  her  silken  headscarf, 
fluttered  in  unfelt  softness  upon  her 
bared  shoulder,  as  though  both  to  shield 
and  to  emphasize  the  delicate  beauty  of 
her  skin — clear  almost  to  whiteness  in 
contrast  with  her  Judean  type. 

A  quickened  heart-beat  heightened 
for  a  moment  the  faint  coloring  of  her 
cheeks,  and  her  soft-brown,  wistful  eyes, 
fixed  upon  the  deepening  sky,  grew 
luminous  with  prayer,  as  with  a  mute 
movement  of  her  lips  she  repeated  the 
words  of  the  Psalmist.  She  gave  no 
heed  to  the  white-blossom  petals  waft- 
ing about  her  in  the  freshening  breeze ; 
nor  did  she  hear  the  warbling  of  a 
thrush  that  swayed  upon  the  near-by 

12 


An  Interpretation 

branch  of  a  leafing  fig  tree.  Amid  the 
varied  stir  and  cadences  of  her  sylvan 
quietude  the  words  of  the  hymn,  drift- 
ing upon  the  fragrant  air,  alone  found 
answering  consciousness. 

"Quicken    me,    0    Lord,    for    Thy 

name's  sake. 
For  Thy  righteousness9  sake  bring 

my  soul  out  of  trouble." 

The  sharp  breaking  of  a  twig  close 
by  aroused  her  to  a  sudden  realization 
of  another  presence.  A  young  man 
who  had  approached  unobserved 
through  the  garden,  was  standing 
within  a  few  feet  of  where  she  sat. 

Evidently  he  had  been  walking  rap- 
idly, for  the  lower  fold  of  his  travel- 
stained  kaffiyeh,  wrapped  carelessly 
about  his  head,  was  moist  with  per- 
spiration, and  a  dull  glow  burned  be- 
neath the  olive  brownness  of  his  face. 

13 


The  Passover 

His  muscular  hands  and  thick  growth 
of  beard  suggested  strength  and  en- 
durance, despite  his  slender  build ;  and 
from  the  fact  that  he  was  barefooted 
— his  rough  sandals  hanging  by  their 
thongs  from  his  girdle — it  was  evident 
he  was  not  unused  to  the  more  rugged 
customs  of  outdoor  life. 

He  had  removed  his  cloak  and  was 
holding  it  upon  his  left  arm,  exposing 
to  view  a  large  leather  purse  fastened 
by  a  strap  about  his  neck  and  repos- 
ing in  one  of  the  pocket-like  folds  of 
his  broad  girdle.  Slung  across  his 
shoulder  was  a  weather-worn  traveling 
bag  of  undressed  goat  skin,  while  in 
his  left  hand  he  grasped  a  rough  walk- 
ing staff,  upon  which  he  now  leaned  as 
he  stood  looking  at  the  young  woman 
before  him.  His  small,  black  eyes, 
close-set  and  overshadowed  with  heavy 


An  Interpretation 

brows,  giving  to  his  countenance  a 
stern  and  almost  sinister  expression, 
were  fixed  upon  her  with  piercing  in- 
tensity. 

" Peace  be  unto  you,  Mary."  He 
spoke  with  an  obvious  attempt  at  gen- 
tleness and  raised  his  hand  in  greet- 
ing. As  she  started  confusedly  and 
drew  her  cloak  about  her,  he  smiled 
faintly  and  added,  "I  did  not  think  to 
disturb  you  at  prayer." 

Her  face  flamed  with  sudden  color. 
"You  are  welcome,  Judas;  and  may 
peace  be  with  you."  Catching  her 
hair  into  place,  she  added  hurriedly, 
"You  are  warm  and  fatigued:  Come 
into  the  court,  where  you  may  rest,  and 
let  me  fetch  you  food  and  drink." 

He  detained  her  by  a  touch  upon  the 
arm  as  she  was  about  to  rise.  "No;  it 
is  not  necessary,"  he  assured  her.  "I 

15 


The  Passover 

cannot  remain.  I  am  on  my  way  to 
Bethphage  and  have  stopped  only  to 
say  a  few  words  to  you  alone." 

He  hesitated,  and  then  went  on  ab- 
ruptly, speaking  with  blunt  earnest- 
ness and  again  fixing  his  eyes  upon 
her:  "I  have  spoken  to  your  brother 
Lazarus  and  to  Martha,  and  they  tell 
me  that  you  are — " 

"To  be  betrothed  to  Gamaliel,"  she 
interrupted  quietly. 

"Only  if  you  are  so  inclined,"  he 
corrected  her.  "They  do  not  insist 
upon  it.  They  leave  you  free  to 
choose." 

"I  have  already  chosen." 

"But  you  are  not  bound  by  your 
choice.  You  are  not  yet  betrothed. 
Come,  you  must  not  be  unreasonable, 
Mary.  Your  hand  is  free  and  I  have 
an  equal  right  to  it  with  any  other 
man. ' ' 

16 


An  Interpretation 

"But  did  I  not  tell  you,  Judas,  when 
you  spoke  of  this  before,  that  it  could 
not  be?  Do  you  not  believe  me?  I 
told  you  then  that  I  had  chosen  other- 
wise, and  you  know  I  have  no  wish  to 
alter  my  choice.  Why,  then,  do  you 
speak  of  this  again?" 

"Because  I  have  a  right  to,  and  be- 
cause I  will !  There  is  no  good  reason, 
Mary,  why  you  should  not  marry  me. 
I  am  as  good  a  man  as  Gamaliel.  He 
is  no  more  deserving  than  I.  You  will 
tell  me  that  the  Lord  has  favored  him 
with  fairer  features  and  more  gracious 
speech;  but  do  these  things  make  a 
husband?  I  can  give  you  as  good  a 
home — a  better  home.  You  shall  live 
in  the  city,  with  my  sister  Mariamne, 
if  you  wish.  I  can  provide  well  for 
you.  I  can  earn  more  than  Gamaliel; 
I  am  stronger  and  have  a  better  trade, 
and  I  am  well  known  throughout  Ju- 

17 


The  Passover 

dea.  And,  moreover,  do  you  forget  that 
through  my  mother  I  bear  the  blood  of 
the  Maccabees'?  and  was  not  my  father 
for  more  than  twenty  years  an  elder 
of  the  Sanhedrin?  Mine  is  a  worthy 
and  noble  family;  and  withal  am  I  not 
one  of  the  chosen  disciples  of  Rabbi 
Jesus? 

"It  is  not  for  me  to  boast,  but  you 
should  know  it  is  not  given  to  every 
woman  to  have  choice  between  a  vil- 
lage dullard  and  a  man  of  name  and 
consequence.  And  if  the  Lord  shall 
smile  upon  our  efforts  who  shall  say 
what  honor  or  station  may  not  some 
day  be  mine?" 

Mary  moved  uneasily.  "It  is  not 
that  I  am  unmindful  of  what  you  tell 
me,"  she  responded  to  his  questioning 
pause.  "I  am  honored  by  your  friend- 
ship and  by  your  wish  to  marry  me. 
This  I  have  already  told  you.  All  that 

18 


An  Interpretation 

I  know  to  say  I  have  said.  Perhaps  if 
you  better  understood  a  woman's  feel- 
ings you  would  not  pain  me  by  continu- 
ing to  speak  upon  this  matter  and  de- 
manding again  the  answer  you  already 
know. ' ' 

"But  I  say  to  you  your  brother  does 
wrong  to  give  you  a  choice  in  the  mat- 
ter !  You  will  not  reason  for  yourself. 
He  is  favorable  to  me  and  has  given 
his  consent.  You  should  decide  as  he 
and  your  sister  Martha  wish.  It  is 
your  duty  under  the  law.  I  had  hoped, 
however,  that  you  might  of  your  own 
will  look  with  favor  upon  me.  It  is 
not  the  custom  for  the  men  of  Judah 
to  plead  with  the  women  they  would 
marry.  But  I  am  not  moved  by  the 
ways  of  other  men.  As  Jacob  felt  to- 
ward Rachel,  so  do  I  feel  toward  you, 
Mary ;  and  I  thought  to  gain  your  good 
will  by  speaking  freely  to  you,  rather 

19 


The  Passover 

than  to  make  of  the  matter  a  mere  bar- 
gain with  your  brother  according  to 
the  custom  of  our  people.  Gladly 
would  I  labor  for  you  for  twice  seven 
years.  There  is  no  other  man  that 
feels  toward  you — that  craves  you — as 
I  do.  No  other  man  could  so  cherish 
you  as  his  wife.  Of  this  your  brother 
is  already  assured.  He  knows  the  man 
I  am.  I  have  concealed  nothing  from 
him.  As  a  ruler  of  the  synagogue  he 
is  fitted  to  choose  between  men,  and  he 
will  tell  you  that  he  thinks  better  of  me 
as  a  husband  for  you  than  Gamaliel. 
Is  not  this  enough! — is  not  his  judg- 
ment, his  desire,  sufficient  to  determine 
your  choice,  or  must  I  now  ask  him  to 
exercise  his  right,  and  choose  for 
you?" 

"It  is  your  privilege  as  a  man  to  do 
as  you  wish,'*  she  answered  quietly. 
"But  you  forget,  Judas,  that  the  law 
20 


An  Interpretation 

of  betrothal  requires  the  woman's  con- 
sent. ' ' 

"And  would  you  think  to  withhold  it 
if  your  brother  commanded!" 

"Lazarus  will  not  ask  that  I  marry 
against  my  will." 

"Indeed!  This  is  bold  talk  for  a 
maiden!  Have  we  returned  to  the 
days  of  Deborah,  that  a  woman  shall 
determine  a  man's  opinion  and  author- 
ity? But  why  do  you  answer  me  thus  I 
What  have  you  against  me,  wherein  do 
I  fail,  that  you  are  so  ready  to  question 
your  brother's  judgment!" 

"You  do  not  understand  me,  Judas: 
I  have  chosen  otherwise.  That  is  all." 

"Bah!  You  speak  without  reason, 
Mary!  You  answer  but  to  mock  me. 
Yet,  believe  me,  I  am  not  deceived! 
Listen:  Why  have  you  chosen  other- 
wise? Why  will  you  not  hearken  to 
me?"  He  bent  forward  and  put  his 
21 


The  Passover 

face  close  to  hers.  "It  is  because  you 
love  Gamaliel!  You  think  to  hide  it 
from  me  and  to  put  me  off  with  mean- 
ingless talk.  But  I  am  not  blind!  I 
am  not  a  fool !  You  would  marry  this 
soft-tongued  hewer  of  stone  because 
you  love  him!"  He  emphasized  his 
accusation  with  a  note  of  scorn.  *  *  Tell 
me  I  speak  the  truth,"  he  commanded, 
placing  his  hand  on  her  shoulder  and 
forcing  her  to  turn  her  face  to  his — "it 
is  because  you  love  him!" 

She  drew  away  from  his  hold  with 
gentle  dignity.  "Let  us  not  talk  of 
this  any  further,"  she  protested.  "We 
but  waste  words  and  put  a  strain  upon 
our  friendship.  .  .  .  Tell  me  about 
the  Master:  Where  is  he,  and  how 
fared  the  day  with  him?" 

"I  do  not  know  where  he  is,"  re- 
sponded the  man  with  sullen  impa- 

22 


An  Interpretation 

tience.  "When  I  last  saw  him  he  was 
at  the  pool  of  Bethesda." 

She  did  not  appear  to  heed  his  indif- 
ference; but  turning  from  him  and 
looking  off  to  the  westward  she  com- 
mented simply,  "He  is  probably  on  his 
way  to  Bethany  by  this  time  and  ought 
soon  to  be  here." 

Her  companion  shook  his  head. 
"No,"  he  said  curtly;  "Babbi  Jesus 
will  spend  the  night  in  the  city." 

She  started  and  glanced  up  hastily. 
"He  will  not  return  this  evening! 
Why  ?  What  should  keep  him  ? ' ' 

Judas  shrugged  his  shoulders. 
* '  May  he  not  remain  in  the  city  if  he  is 
so  inclined?" 

"We  expected  him  home,"  she  an- 
swered, without  argument.  "Tell  me, 
Judas,  why  does  he  remain?  Has  any 
evil  befallen  him?" 

23 


The  Passover 

"No;  he  is  tired  out;  that  is  all.  He 
would  rather  rest  where  he  is  than  walk 
these  two  miles  across  the  mount." 

"But  is  he  not  in  danger  by  remain- 
ing in  the  city  over  night!" 

"No  more  than  if  he  were  here." 

"And  you  say  he  is  weary  and  ex- 
hausted! Has  he  been  talking  to  the 
people  during  all  the  day,  without  rest 
or  refreshment!" 

' '  He  did  not  go  to  the  city  to  eat  and 
rest.  It  is  less  than  an  hour  ago  that 
I  myself  had  a  taste  of  food  for  the 
first  time  since  sunrise.  What  else 
could  you  expect  on  a  day  like  this? 
Even  before  we  reached  the  city  gate 
this  morning  the  Passover  crowds 
pressed  about  us  and  demanded  to  hear 
him  speak." 

"And  did  they  believe — did  they  un- 
derstand!" 

Judas  again  shrugged  his  shoulders. 
24 


An  Interpretation 

" Perhaps  there  were  some  who  did," 
he  answered  coolly. 

' l  But  was  he  not  well  received  f  Did 
they  not  welcome  him  as  they  did  yes- 
terday and  the  day  before?" 

"No;  and  why  should  they?  They 
were  disappointed,  and  ill-humored.  I 
knew  it  would  be  so.  They  have  grown 
tired  of  waiting.  They  want  some- 
thing more  than  words.  Talk  and 
promises  will  not  satisfy  them.  On 
Sunday,  when  he  rode  into  the  city, 
and  even  yesterday,  when  he  purged 
the  Temple,  they  were  ready  to  accept 
him.  It  needed  but  a  word  to  proclaim 
him  king.  They  were  eager  to  fight 
for  him.  All  Jerusalem  was  with  him. 
Thousands  of  the  Galilean  zealots  were 
secretly  armed.  A  Maccabeus  would 
have  taken  the  city  from  the  Romans 
with  half  the  number  of  men  that  Jesus 
could  have  commanded.  The  time  had 

25 


The  Passover 

come  for  him  to  act.    He  should  have 
proved  himself  the  Messiah!" 

"Judas!"  Her  exclamation  was  an 
outburst  of  startled  surprise  and  re- 
monstration. 

"Oh,  I  know  what  you  would  say," 
he  retorted;  "but  what  does  a  woman 
know  about  public  affairs  1  Does  it  not 
prove  anything  that  the  people  are 
turning  from  him  and  mocking  him, 
when  only  yesterday  they  were  ready 
to  shed  their  blood  for  him?  Is  the 
multitude  made  up  of  fools  ?  I  tell  you 
the  time  had  come  for  Jesus  to  lead  the 
people  and  set  up  the  kingdom  of  God 
against  the  Eomans ! ' ' 

He  flashed  upon  Her  a  peremptory 
look  of  defiance.  In  response,  she 
turned  her  eyes  wonderingly  to  his  and 
gazed  at  him  for  a  moment  in  silence. 

"And  this  from  you,  Judas — one  of 
his  own  disciples'?" 
26 


An  Interpretation 

The  words  came  slowly,  as  in  the 
utterance  of  a  revelation  not  fully 
grasped. 

"Yes;  and  why  should  I  not  speak 
what  is  true?"  he  demanded  sharply. 
"If  you  understood  these  things  you 
•  would  not  think  to  charge  me  with  un- 
faithfulness to  Jesus.  It  is  because  we 
do  not  want  him  to  fail,  that  I  speak  as 
I  do.  But  a  woman  cannot  see  beyond 
her  heart!  You  and  the  rest  of  the 
women,  like  Joanna  and  Salome  and 
Mary  Magdalene,  are  content  to  sit  by 
with  folded  hands  and  imagine  there  is 
nought  else  to  do  but  listen  to  his 
teachings  I 

"It  is  not  for  you  to  tell  me  that  he 
does  not  desire  to  become  king  or  to 
rule  the  people.  I  know  it ;  I  have  ears 
and  an  understanding.  But  if  the  peo- 
ple demand  it — if  they  will  not  hearken 
to  him,  if  they  will  not  believe  him  to 

2? 


The  Passover 

be  the  Messiah  unless  he  puts  himself 
at  their  head  against  the  enemies  of  the 
nation — why  should  he  not  do  so?  It 
may  be  contrary  to  his  plans  and  to  his 
desires ;  but  must  that  stand  in  the  way 
of  Israel's  salvation?  If  the  people 
are  to  be  convinced,  we  must  do  as  they 
demand.  It  is  not  for  us  to  choose. 
The  prophecies  must  be  fulfilled  accord- 
ing to  their  expectations.  Otherwise, 
what  does  it  avail?  How  are  we  to 
succeed  ?" 

Mary  offered  no  reply,  save  in  a 
quivered  drooping  of  her  eyes;  and 
Judas  continued: 

"Last  year,  at  Bethsaida,  the  Gali- 
leans would  have  made  him  king.  The 
whole  country  was  mad  to  march  to 
Jerusalem  under  his  banner.  But  he 
would  not  hearken  to  them,  and  perhaps 
then  it  was  better  so ;  the  people  of  Ju- 
dea  may  not  at  that  time  have  been 
28 


An  Interpretation 

ready  to  receive  him.  But  the  day  be- 
fore yesterday,  when  he  rode  into  the 
city  and  allowed  the  multitude  to  hail 
him  as  the  king  and  redeemer  of  Israel, 
we  believed,  and  all  Jerusalem  believed, 
that  he  meant  at  last  to  declare  himself 
and  rally  the  nation  about  him  for  the 
setting  up  of  God's  kingdom  on  earth. 
"The  people  were  with  him.  Ju- 
deans  and  Galileans  alike  shouted  his 
praises.  Even  the  Sadducees  stood 
ready  to  acknowledge  him.  His  ene- 
mies were  confounded  and  put  to 
shame.  The  Eoman  soldiers  were 
swept  aside.  The  whole  city  arose  to 
greet  him.  The  Lord  had  turned  the 
hearts  of  all  Israel  toward  him.  Not 
in  a  hundred  years  has  so  great  a  mul- 
titude gathered  in  the  streets  of  the 
Holy  City.  The  crowds  were  mad  with 
joy.  The  sound  of  their  shouting  was 
heard  even  at  Nephtoah.  The  spirit 
29 


The  Passover 

of  the  Lord  was  upon  them.  Their 
eyes  were  opened.  In  Jesus  they  be- 
held the  son  of  David,  the  Christ.  He 
stood  revealed  before  them.  He  would 
enter  the  Temple  in  the  name  of 
Jehovah  and  prove  to  all  the  nations 
of  earth  by  some  mighty  sign  from 
heaven  that  the  day  of  deliverance  had 
come.  It  lay  within  his  power  to  do  it 
— the  appointed  hour  was  at  hand ;  the 
opportunity  was  given  of  God, — and 
he  should  have  done  it!  I  say  to  you 
he  should  have  done  it!" 

Mary  turned  away  her  head.  A 
bright  spot  burned  in  either  cheek,  and 
for  an  instant  her  lips  trembled  in 
agitated  reply.  But  she  did  not  speak. 
Her  thoughts  found  utterance  only  in 
a  heavy,  deep-drawn  breath,  as  with 
averted  face  she  waited  mutely  for 
Judas  to  conclude. 

"You  do  not  understand  me,  Mary,'7 

30 


An  Interpretation 

he  went  on,  speaking  more  quietly  and 
assuming  a  less  aggressive  tone.  "It 
seems  wrong  to  you,  perhaps,  that 
I  should  talk  this  way,  and  I  should 
have  known  better  than  to  loose  my 
tongue.  There  are  many  things  that 
a  woman  cannot  be  expected  to  under- 
stand. Nevertheless,  you  must  re- 
member this:  That  I  have  been  with 
Eabbi  Jesus  day  after  day  for  nearly 
two  years,  so  that  I  know  him  and 
understand  his  teachings  far  better 
than  do  you.  I  have  traveled  with  him 
from  one  end  of  the  Land  to  the  other 
— yea,  from  Lebanon  to  Beersheba, — 
and  have  seen  and  spoken  with  all 
classes  of  our  own  people  and  with  the 
men  of  other  nations ;  and  it  is  not  for 
you,  a  woman,  knowing  nothing  of  the 
world  outside  this  little  village,  to  put 
your  judgment  against  mine. 
"And,  moreover,  you  must  also  re- 

31 


The  Passover 

, 

member  this:  That  I  have  served  the 
Master  faithfully  and  gladly  during  all 
these  months  and  have  made  many 
bitter  sacrifices  for  his  sake;  more 
than  anybody  knows.  I  gave  up  every- 
thing for  him — my  home,  my  earnings, 
my  reputation.  Many  of  my  friends 
and  kinsmen,  even  my  own  brothers, 
have  turned  against  me.  I  have  been 
mocked  at  and  spit  upon  and  stoned, 
and  I  have  gone  without  food  and 
without  shelter,  for  no  other  rea- 
son than  that  I  am  one  of  his  dis- 
ciples. Nevertheless,  through  it  all, 
have  I  remained  steadfast  and  un- 
changing in  my  devotion.  This  he  will 
himself  tell  you,  for  he  knows  that 
without  a  murmur  have  I  stood  by  him 
in  all  of  his  trials  and  dangers  and 
shared  them  with  him,  faithfully  and 
uncomplainingly. 

"And  thus  far  what  have  I  asked 


An  Interpretation 

as  recompense?- — what  have  I  re- 
ceived? Nothing!  I  would  have  laid 
down  my  life  for  him.  Even  now  we 
are  risking  our  lives  by  remaining  with 
him  at  Jerusalem.  And  are  we  not 
deserving  of  anything  in  return?  Is 
not  his  cause  our  cause?  We  have  la- 
bored together  for  the  same  end.  His 
mission  means  as  much  to  us  as  it  does 
to  him.  Could  he  have  accomplished 
what  he  has  had  it  not  been  for  us? 
Does  he  not  himself  teach  the  people 
that  the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire? 
Two  days  ago  our  reward  lay  within 
our  grasp.  Success  and  power  might 
have  been  ours — should  have  been 
ours, — but — "  he  checked  himself  and 
passed  his  hand  over  his  brow — "Let 
us  say  no  more  about  it.  This  is  not 
the  time  to  talk  of  this.  I  came  to 
speak  upon  a  different  matter  and,  I 
had  hoped,  a  more  pleasant  one." 

33 


The  Passover 

He  paused  expectantly.  Mary  did 
not  turn  to  address  him,  but  gazing 
beyond  him  into  space  she  spoke  as 
one  communing  with  herself: 

"What  right  have  they  to  be  disap- 
pointed? Why  will  they  not  under- 
stand? Oh,  how  can  they  be  so  blind, 
so  unfeeling,  so  cruel ! ' ' 

Judas  ventured  to  explain:  "The 
people  have  every  reason  to  be  disap- 
pointed. They  expected  great  things. 
Their  hopes  had  been  raised  to  the 
highest  point.  They  thought  to  find 
in  Jesus  the  long-promised  Eedeemer; 
and  he  has  failed  them!  They  looked 
for  deeds,  and  he  has  given  them  only 
words!  It  may  be  that  they  have 
acted  unjustly;  they  may  be  unreason- 
able; they  may  have  asked  too  much; 
but  it  is  not  for  us  to  blame  them  for 
expecting  a  savior  according  to  the 
promise  of  the  Prophets." 

34 


An  Interpretation 

"And  there  was  no  one  to  encourage 
him,"  she  went  on,  in  rapt  soliloquy; 
"no  one  to  offer  him  comfort;  no 
one  to  bid  him  rest;  and  the  day  has 
burned  with  the  heat  of  summer ! ' ' 

Judas  sought  again  to  answer  her: 
"We  did  what  we  could;  but  we  be- 
came separated  from  him;  the  crowds 
on  the  Temple  porches  pressed  about 
him  so  closely.  Besides,  I  had  busi- 
ness in  the  Upper  City,  which  took  me 
away  from  the  Temple  for  several 
hours  during  the  day." 

His  words  passed  unacknowledged. 
Mary  gave  no  sign  of  having  heard 
him.  She  was  again  leaning  forward, 
with  clasped  hands,  in  an  attitude  of 
reverie. 

"Let  my  prayer  be  set  before  Thee 

as  incense, 
And  the  lifting  up  of  my  hands  as 

the  evening  sacrifice." 

35 


The  Passover 

Judas  did  not  at  once  seek  to  arouse 
her.  He  stood  by  in  silence;  his  gaze 
resting  upon  her  bosom  as  it  rose  and 
fell  in  fugitive  outline  beneath  the  dis- 
closive  drapery  of  her  garment.  Shift- 
ing his  hands  nervously  upon  his  staff 
he  moved  as  if  to  speak;  then  sud- 
denly drew  close  and  bent  over  her: 

"I  want  you  to  listen  to  me,  Mary. 
You  must  listen  to  me!"  He  spoke 
with  fierce  determination.  "I  love 
you,  Mary !  I  swear  to  you  I  love  you, 
and  I  want  you !  You  must  not  refuse 
me!  Let  me  prove  my  devotion.  I 
can  wait,  if  you  will  but  promise  to 
marry  me.  Look  at  me,  Mary!  Lis- 
ten to  me!  You  shall  listen!"  He 
clutched  her  roughly  by  the  arm  and 
pulled  her  toward  him. 

She  sprang  to  her  feet  with  a  startled 
cry.  " Martha!"  she  called  appeal- 
ingly,  turning  toward  the  house,  over- 

36 


An  Interpretation 

come  with  a  sudden  instinct  of  terror. 
In  another  instant,  however,  she  had 
gained  control  of  her  fear,  and  as  Ju- 
das released  his  hold  her  natural  spirit 
asserted  itself  and  she  stood  before 
him  flushed  and  trembling  with  maid- 
enly resentment. 

She  was  about  to  speak,  but  Judas 
anticipated  her:  "You  act  like  a 
child!"  he  blurted  in  sneering  reproof. 
"I  am  not  going  to  harm  you!  May 
not  a  man  declare  his  love  openly,  and 
have  I  not  an  equal  right  with  others? 
But — if  you  will  not  listen  to  me,  so  be 
it!"  He  gathered  his  cloak  upon  his 
arm  with  an  angry  gesture.  "You 
have  made  me  unwelcome,  and  I  shall 
go.  I  have  humbled  myself  by  plead- 
ing with  you  and  revealing  my  heart 
to  you.  I  should  have  known  better! 
It  is  not  for  you  to  say  me  Yes  or  No ! 
I  have  been  a  fool  to  reason  with  a 

37 


The  Passover 

woman!  Farewell,  and  may  the  Lord 
keep  you ! ' ' 

He  turned  and  walked  abruptly  away. 

Mary  remained  standing  where  he 
had  left  her.  She  did  not  attempt  to 
recall  him  or  make  reply.  With  an  ex- 
pression of  anxious  indecision  she 
watched  in  silence  his  retreating  figure 
until  it  was  hid  from  view  by  a  turn 
in  the  path.  Nor  did  she  venture  to 
move  till  the  sound  of  a  closing  gate 
announced  his  departure  from  the  gar- 
den. 

With  a  deep  sigh,  she  drew  her  man- 
tle more  closely  about  her  and  turned 
slowly  toward  the  house.  Through  a 
clearing  in  the  garden  the  Mount  of 
Olives  rose  before  her,  veiled  in  the 
dreamy  atmosphere  of  fading  day. 
She  paused  and  folding  her  hands  be- 
fore her  gazed  longingly  upon  the  quiet 
vista. 

38 


An  Interpretation 

The  softening  light  was  already 
blending  the  colors  of  garden  and  field 
into  the  restful  monochrome  of  even- 
tide and  transforming  into  masses  of 
shade  the  landscape's  varied  forms 
and  features.  Distinguishable  here 
and  there  amid  the  deep  greens  of  the 
orchards  and  the  low-walled  vineyards 
was  a  narrow  road,  tracing  in  gray 
outline  a  winding  pathway  across  the 
mount.  It  was  the  road  to  Jerusalem ; 
the  link  between  Bethany  and  the  Holy 
City. 

With  pensive  eyes  she  followed  its 
wayward  course  up  the  uneven  slope 
of  the  mountain.  Gradually  it  faded 
and  was  lost  to  sight  in  the  glimmer  of 
the  distance;  in  the  soft  brushing  of 
the  sky  upon  the  uplifted  earth.  But, 
as  though  following  its  onward  way, 
she  stood  with  quivering  lip  gazing  fix- 
edly into  the  gathering  clouds  beyond 

39 


The  Passover 

the  summit — into  the  shadows  that  lay 
upon  the  city  of  Jerusalem. 

"Hear  me  when  1  call,  0  God  of  my 

righteousness. 
Have  mercy  upon  me  and  hear  my 


n 


II 

The  Holy  City.  Its  vision  lay  before 
her  in  the  quietude  of  the  setting  sun. 
Only  yesterday  had  she  been  within 
its  sacred  walls,  and  the  impress  of  the 
day  was  still  upon  her.  Again  she  en- 
tered the  city,  and  again  she  came 
forth  wrought  with  a  strange  mingling 
of  fear  and  exalted  hope — for  him. 

It  was  not  a  dream  she  dreamed. 
She  had  witnessed  in  reality  the  scenes 
that  now  passed  before  her  mental 
view ;  had  borne  the  joy  and  the  dread 
misgiving,  the  uplift  of  the  wonder  and 
the  fascination  that  now  again  thralled 
her  heart,  as  she  retraced  in  vivid 
memory  the  hour  that  had  been  hers 
within  the  Temple  the  day  before. 


43 


The  Passover 

It  was  early  morning.  In  company 
with  Lazarus  she  was  on  lier  way 
across  the  mount  to  Jerusalem. 

Though  the  sun  was  only  now  awak- 
ening the  blush  upon  the  dewdrops  that 
jeweled  the  grass  and  the  myriad  wild 
flowers,  the  Master  had  preceded  them 
by  more  than  an  hour.  He  had  spent 
the  night  at  their  home,  in  the  upper 
room — the  room  built  upon  the  roof, 
that  it  might  give  to  the  honored  guest 
a  special  privacy  and  comfort, — and 
in  accordance  with  his  wont  had  risen 
before  daybreak  and  quietly  descend- 
ing the  outer  stairway  had  taken  his 
departure.  Only  she  of  the  household 
had  seen  him  go.  She  had  risen  be- 
times and  was  in  the  garden  to  greet 
him  and  ask  God's  peace  upon  him  as 
he  passed  out  in  the  morning  twilight, 
to  join  his  companions  awaiting  him 
at  the  village  gate. 

44 


An  Interpretation 

To  Lazarus  the  walk  across  the 
mount  was  a  commonplace  duty  of  al- 
most daily  performance.  To  her,  a 
visit  to  the  city  was  a  privilege,  an 
experience,  to  be  enjoyed  only  at  rare 
intervals  during  the  year.  On  this 
day,  however,  she  had  pleaded  for  per- 
mission to  accompany  her  brother. 
She  felt  impelled  to  go;  to  follow  the 
Master ;  to  witness  with  her  own  pres- 
ence what  the  day  should  bring  forth 
for  him. 

She  did  not  question  the  meaning  of 
her  impelling  desire.  Her  conscious 
mind  would  not  translate  the  signals 
of  her  soul.  She  asked  no  more  than 
that  Lazarus  would  hearken  to  her 
wish  and  permit  her  to  go  to  the  Tem- 
ple with  him. 

Perchance  it  was  but  an  impulse 
aroused  by  the  prevailing  spirit  of 
expectation  and  unrest.  The  demon- 

45 


The  Passover 

stration  with  which  the  Master  had 
been  greeted  upon  his  entrance  to 
Jerusalem  the  previous  morning  had 
stirred  all  hearts  with  its  portent.  The 
excitement  of  the  city  had  spread  to 
the  outlying  communities,  and  even 
now,  at  this  early  hour,  the  mount  was 
dotted  with,  the  figures  of  men  and 
women  directing  their  steps  toward  the 
city,  with  no  other  object  than  that 
created  by  an  eager  curiosity. 

As  she  and  Lazarus  reached  the 
summit  of  the  path,  a  common  impulse 
checked  their  steps.  Below  them  lay 
the  Holy  City,  lighted  with  the  flush  of 
the  morning  sun.  In  mute  devoutness 
they  halted  upon  the  mountain's  crest 
and  rested  their  eyes  upon  the  hallowed 
scene. 

The  massive  walls,  with  their  lofty 
towers,  springing  in  defiant  strength 
from  the  depths  of  the  valley;  Mount 

46 


An  Interpretation 

Zion  rising  above  all  the  city  and  shed- 
ding the  immemorial  glory  of  King 
David  upon  the  transplendent  palace 
that  crowned  its  summit;  the  tower  of 
Psephinos  lifting  its  granite  battle- 
ments into  the  clear  blue  in  solitary 
grandeur;  the  marble  castles  of  Hip- 
picus  and  Mariamne;  the  uprearing 
fortress  of  Antonio,  the  tombs  of  the 
ancient  kings,  the  glittering  palaces  and 
theatres  of  the  Romans,  and  every- 
where the  multitude  of  houses  shining 
white  in  the  sun  and  covering  the  hills 
of  the  city  like  unto  a  giant  flock  of 
sheep — all  rose  before  their  sight  in 
individual  distinctness,  then  merged 
into  a  unity  of  vision  and  became  but 
the  background  of  the  ascendant  object 
of  their  gaze :  the  Temple. 

The  admiration  of  the  world,  the 
pride,  the  glory  of  God's  people  and 
the  sanctuary  of  the  nation's  hopes 

47 


The  Passover 

and  memories,  it  stood  upon  its  sa- 
cred hill  transcendent  in  the  majesty 
of  its  beauty  and  its  magnitude. 
Seeming  to  rest  upon  the  very  walls  of 
the  city,  it  rose  against  the  sky  in  a 
succession  of  marble  walls  and  col- 
umns, of  courts  and  cloisters,  of  pil- 
lared porches,  and  stairs,  and  jeweled 
gates ;  terrace  upon  terrace,  court  upon 
court,  tower  above  tower,  until  the  vast 
upspringing  structure,  white  as  a  sum- 
mer cloud  and  seemingly  no  more 
material  in  its  poise  and  graceful 
splendor,  culminated  in  the  overtower- 
ing  tabernacle  of  the  Holy  of  Holies, 
upon  whose  gilded  roof  a  myriad 
spikes  of  gold  caught  the  morning 
beams  and  flashed  them  back  to  heaven 
in  dazzling  fire. 

For  several  moments  neither  she  nor 
her  brother  spoke.  With  folded  arms 
Lazarus  stood  and  gazed  at  the  city 

48 


An  Interpretation 

in  reverent  contemplation.  What 
thoughts  engaged  his  mind  she  did  not 
know.  Perhaps  he  but  shared  those  of 
the  many  other  villagers  now  standing 
in  like  attitude  upon  the  mountain's 
slope,  feasting  their  eyes  upon  the 
glory  of  God's  citadel. 

To  her  the  picture  breathed  of  mir- 
acle and  of  prayer;  nay,  of  the  spirit 
of  God  moving  upon  the  silence  of  a 
coming  storm.  In  its  splendor  lay  the 
shadow  of  a  mystery,  a  pathos,  a  sa- 
credness,  beyond  her  fathoming.  The 
hope  and  the  joy  and  the  thankfulness 
which  but  an  hour  before  had  meas- 
ured the  full  tenantry  of  her  heart  at 
thought  of  the  welcome  that  the  mighty 
city  had  bestowed  upon  the  Master, 
seemed  now  afar  off  and  unsatisfying; 
a  mere  groping  toward  that  which  her 
heart  would  know  and  make  manifest. 

With  a  new  eagerness,  a  new  sensi- 

49 


The  Passover 

bility  she  listened  again  to  a  recital  of 
the  Master's  entry  into  Jerusalem  on 
yester  morning.  As  they  resumed 
their  journey  Lazarus  recounted  to  her 
the  scene  as  he  had  witnessed  it.  Cus- 
tomarily quiet  and  taciturn  and  little 
given  to  discussion  with  his  sisters,  he 
spoke  now  with  animation  and  un- 
wonted freedom.  He,  too,  was  moved 
by  the  spirit  that  the  sight  of  the  city 
had  aroused  in  her.  There  was  an 
exhiliration  in  his  voice,  an  eloquence 
in  his  words  and  gestures,  a  warmth  of 
sympathy  and  admiration  in  his  refer- 
ences to  the  Master,  that  bespoke  his 
emotion  and  upheld  and  intensified  her 
own  fulness  of  heart. 

With  quickened  steps  they  passed 
down  the  mountain  side,  following  the 
familiar  path  in  its  windings  among 
the  olive  orchards  and  the  groves  of 
palms  and  cedars,  until  they  emerged 

50 


An  Interpretation 

upon  the  open  ground  overlooking  the 
deep  ravine  of  the  Kidron. 

Only  in  vague  consciousness  had  she 
noted  the  vernal  beauties  of  the  land- 
scape that  lay  upon  their  way.  The 
rugged  mountains  of  Judah  and  of 
Benjamin,  painting  the  horizon  to  the 
south  and  north  with  amethystine  lights 
and  azure  shades;  the  billowy  hills, 
purple  and  green  and  tinted  with  rose, 
fading  into  the  golden  mists  of  the 
morning ;  the  ripple  of  the  grain  fields ; 
the  verdured  watch-towers  of  sunlit 
vineyards;  the  roads,  the  gardens,  the 
valleys,  and,  over  all,  the  flame  of  the 
red  anemones,  the  lilies  of  the  field, 
which  the  breath  of  spring  had  strewn 
as  a  blush  from  heaven  upon  the  wak- 
ening earth — these  and  all  else  that 
glorified  her  pathway  seemed  but  the 
incidental  and  necessary  accompani- 
ment to  her  journey  upon  this  pregnant 

51 


The  Passover 

morning.  Her  gaze,  her  thoughts  were 
fixed  upon  the  Temple.  All  else  was 
but  contributory  to  its  fascination. 

Directly  before  them,  across  the  Kid- 
ron,  the  magnificent  porch  of  Solomon, 
the  eastern  vestibule  of  the  sanctuary, 
rose  above  the  frowning  walls  of  the 
city  in  all  its  massive  detail  of  gold 
and  onyx  and  sculptured  marble;  and 
moving  about  as  pigmies  among  its  co- 
lossal pillars  she  could  distinguish  the 
priests  and  the  Pharisees  already  gath- 
ered within  its  cloistered  aisles  prepar- 
atory to  their  daily  occupations  and 
discussions.  And  that  she  was  draw- 
ing near  to  the  city  was  now  further 
attested  by  the  increasing  number  of 
persons  converging  toward  the  bridge 
that  spanned  the  ravine.  Many  of  the 
Passover  pilgrims  who  had  already 
arrived  and  whose  tents  and  booths 
decked  the  surrounding  hills,  were 

52 


An  Interpretation 

joining  the  villagers  in  their  errands  to 
the  Temple,  while  along  the  road  from 
Jericho  numerous  parties  of  pilgrims, 
afoot  and  on  donkeys,  were  newly  ar- 
riving and  hastening  forward  to  the 
city  in  voiceful  eagerness. 

Becoming  part  of  the  caravan,  she 
and  Lazarus  crossed  the  bridge  and 
ascended  the  steep  hill  to  the  city  wall. 
The  cavernous  gateway  beneath  its 
armored  tower  was  choked  with  a 
stream  of  humanity  pouring  into  the 
city.  With  crowded  steps  they  passed 
slowly  through  and  came  at  once  upon 
the  confusing  turmoil  of  the  awakened 
metropolis.  Skirting  the  fortress  of 
Antonio  on  their  left  and  passing  on 
their  right  the  pool  of  Bethesda  with 
its  depressing  picture  of  maimed  and 
loathsome  cripples  huddled  about  it, 
they  made  their  way  through  a  course 
of  narrow,  rugged  streets  that  led  them 

53 


The  Passover 

by  gradual  ascent  to  the  summit  of  the 
Temple  plateau.  Here  they  turned  to 
the  left,  and  moved  south  along  the 
ridge  of  the  mount  toward  the  busy 
center  of  the  city. 

Already  the  great  bazaar  in  the 
lower  New  Town  was  full  of  bustle. 
The  long  street,  crowded  with  its  stalls 
and  booths  and  shops,  was  fraught  with 
exciting  interest  and  the  lure  of  rare 
merchandise  and  novel  sights.  Potters 
were  busy  in  their  sheds,  flax  beaters 
pounded  their  flax  within  the  doorways, 
and  everywhere  artisans  plied  their 
work,  some  in  their  shops,  some  in  the 
open,  and  all  too  diligently  occupied 
with  the  demands  of  this  their  busiest 
and  most  profitable  season,  to  give  at- 
tention to  the  scenes  about  them  or  even 
to  respond  with  customary  obeisance  to 
the  passing  of  priest  or  rabbi.  Nor, 
indeed,  would  the  observance  of  such 

54 


An  Interpretation 

ceremony  have  been  feasible  upon  this 
crowded  morning,  for,  in  constant 
number,  doctors,  scribes,  priests  and 
Levites,  together  with  Essenes  and 
Pharisees  and  Zealots,  mingled  indis- 
criminately to-day  with  the  swarming 
crowds ;  brushing  sanctified  elbows  with 
pagan  Eoman  officials,  military  officers, 
guards  and  legionaries,  and  with  gen- 
tile pilgrims  whose  babble  of  strange 
tongues  and  whose  many-colored  cos- 
tumes, representative  of  every  nation 
and  city  of  the  world,  completed  the  be- 
wildering and  wondrous  cosmorama. 

At  every  step  the  throng  grew  denser 
and  more  noisy  and  more  impatient  in 
its  haste  to  reach  the  Temple  gates. 
Pressed  and  jostled  on  every  hand  as 
they  traced  their  way  through  the  laby- 
rinth of  winding  and  congested  streets, 
Mary  held  close  to  her  brother's  side, 
half  fearing,  half  enjoying  the  confu- 

55 


The  Passover 

sion  and  the  always  wondrous  novelty 
of  the  great  city.  Only  two  or  three 
times  before  had  she  been  here  at  the 
hour  of  morning  prayer  and  beheld  the 
streets  alive  with  worshipers  bending 
their  steps  toward  the  Temple.  But 
never  had  she  come  at  this  season  of 
the  year,  when  all  the  nation  swarmed 
into  Jerusalem  aflame  with  patriotism 
and  the  festive  spirit  of  the  Passover. 
Never,  therefore,  had  the  city  appeared 
to  her  so  crowded,  so  restless,  so 
charged  with  excitement,  so  tinged 
with  the  strangeness  of  foreign  tongues 
and  faces  and  unfamiliar  sights. 

Lazarus  did  not  seek  to  enter  the 
first  gate,  but  moved  on  under  the 
shadow  of  the  Temple's  outer  wall  un- 
til they  reached  a  less  crowded  gate- 
way near  the  Xystus  bridge.  Yet  even 
here  they  were  obliged  to  halt  and  wait 
for  those  ahead  to  pass  through.  And 

56 


An  Interpretation 

moving  across  the  bridge  that  spanned 
the  lower  streets  and  joined  Mount 
Zion  with  the  Temple  she  beheld  other 
hundreds — men,  women  and  children — 
coming  from  the  Upper  City  to  swell 
the  concourse  of  which  she  was  an  in- 
appreciable though  palpitating  part. 

Entering  the  gate  and  passing  into 
the  court  of  the  Gentiles,  she  found 
herself  suddenly  in  the  midst  of  an  al- 
most deafening  Babel.  She  could  not 
for  a  moment  realize  that  she  was  in- 
deed within  the  precincts  of  the  holy 
Temple.  Never  had  she  known  the 
great  court  so  thronged,  so  swarmed, 
so  stifling  with  closeness  and  the  odors 
of  animals,  and  never  had  she  encoun- 
tered such  tumult  and  disorder. 
Clinging  jto  her  brother's  cloak,  as  he 
made  his  way  with  difficulty  through 
the  rabble,  she  followed  him  to  the 
south  side  of  the  enclosure,  where  he 

57 


The  Passover 

took  his  stand  beneath  the  roof  of  the 
Royal  porch,  beside  one  of  its  shelter- 
ing pillars.  Here  they  were  clear  of 
the  mass  of  people,  and  the  slightly 
raised  floor  of  the  porch  enabled  her  to 
gain  a  more  extensive  view  of  the 
court  and  its  scene  of  confusion. 

She  remembered  that  Lazarus  had 
said  that  the  use  of  the  court  at  this 
time  for  the  sale  of  Passover  sacrifices 
made  of  it  a  veritable  market-place, 
and  that  if  he  permitted  her  to  accom- 
pany him  she  must  be  prepared  for 
much  that  was  unusual  and  disturbing. 
And  in  her  fancy  she  had  seen  the 
greater  multitude  and  had  pictured  the 
sellers  of  offerings  seated  in  the  court 
instead  of  their  customary  places  out- 
side the  gates,  and  had  fortified  herself 
against  the  greater  stir  and  disorder. 
But  the  reality  was  all  so  brutally  dif- 
ferent, so  gross  an  exaggeration  of  her 

58 


An  Interpretation 

boldest  imaginings,  so  wholly  beyond 
anything  she  had  pictured  to  herself  as 
possible  within  the  portals  of  the 
Lord's  sanctuary,  that  she  shrank  from 
it  amazed  and  overwhelmed.  The  up- 
roar smote  her  as  a  profanation.  In 
its  every  feature  the  scene  before  her 
was  a  sacrilege,  a  defilement;  a  mock- 
ery of  God. 

Above  the  general  clamor  rose  the 
coarse  shouts  of  drovers,  the  yelps  of 
dogs  and  the  lowing  of  cattle,  the  cries 
of  dealers  advertising  their  stock,  the 
strident  voices  of  men  in  angry  dis- 
pute, and  the  threats  and  imprecations 
of  the  guards  as  they  struggled  with 
the  surging  and  vociferous  rabble. 
And  as  the  crowd  broke  here  and  there, 
she  caught  occasional  glimpses  of  the 
money-changers  seated  at  their  tables, 
of  oil  and  wine  merchants  in  gaudily 
decked  booths,  of  crafty  potters  press- 

59 


The  Passover 

ing  upon  the  pilgrims  their  dishes  and 
ovens  for  the  Passover  lamb,  of  sheep 
sellers  and  cattle  dealers  standing  by 
their  noisome  pens,  and  of  traders  in 
merchandise  having  no  relation  to  the 
paschal  feast  or  the  Temple  services, 
yet,  like  the  rest,  boldly  carrying  on 
their  mercenary  traffic,  with  shouts  and 
vulgar  invective. 

Lazarus  bent  over  and  spoke  to  her : 
"Remain  here,"  he  said;  "I  will  re- 
turn as  quickly  as  possible." 

He  was  about  to  go,  when  a  sudden 
hush  fell  upon  the  gathered  multitude 
and  arrested  his  steps.  The  riot  of 
tongues  had  abruptly  ceased.  In  its 
place  there  arose  a  swelling  chorus  of 
murmurs  and  subdued  exclamations. 
Evidently  something  of  unusual  mo- 
ment had  occurred.  All  business 
seemed  instantly  suspended. 

With  fast-beating  heart  and  know- 

60 


An  Interpretation 

ing  not  what  to  expect,  she  saw  the 
throng  break  apart  and  shrink  back 
from  the  stalls  and  tables.  Many  of 
the  people  began  moving  hurriedly  to- 
ward the  western  gates.  Scores  of 
men  and  women  entering  the  court 
were  swept  back.  Those  in  the  center 
continued  to  draw  away  from  the  scene 
of  the  market-place,  roughly  pushing 
and  pressing  upon  those  behind  them. 
Some  untoward  commotion  was  taking 
place  in  the  midst  of  the  court.  What 
it  was  she  could  not  at  once  distinguish. 
She  was  too  far  removed.  The  inter- 
vening spectators  blocked  her  view. 
But  above  the  new  turmoil  that  had 
now  arisen — strange  cries  of  fear  and 
of  protest  and  the  dissonant  murmur 
of  bewildered  thousands — she  caught 
the  sound  of  a  voice;  a  clear,  dominat- 
ing voice  of  authority. 

Then,  suddenly,  as  the  crowd  before 

6l 


The  Passover 

lier  separated  and  gave  way,  she  be- 
held the  Master. 

He  was  standing  alone,  in  the  center 
of  the  great  enclosure ;  the  focus  of  all 
the  vast  assemblage.  A  beam  of  the 
morning  sun,  glancing  athwart  the  wall 
of  the  inner  court,  rested  upon  him  and 
illumined  his  figure  in  commanding  re- 
lief. His  face  was  pale  unto  the  white- 
ness of  death.  His  eyes  flashed  with 
the  fire  of  indignation.  He  held  him- 
self as  one  tense  with  passion,  and  the 
vein  across  his  temple  showed  blue  and 
throbbing. 

Beside  him  two  of  the  money  tables 
lay  overturned  upon  the  ground.  The 
others,  pushed  hither  and  thither  out  of 
the  way,  were  empty  and  abandoned, 
save  where  a  few  of  the  remaining 
bankers  were  hastily  gathering  up  their 
coins  preparatory  to  leaving.  Across 
the  open  space  a  mixed  drove  of  sheep 
62 


An  Interpretation 

and  oxen  was  being  rapidly  driven 
out  of  the  court  by  excited  keepers, 
followed  by  a  straggling  company  of 
no  less  agitated  dealers  and  mer- 
chants, many  of  them  awkwardly  en- 
deavoring to  conceal  their  money  bags 
as  they  pushed  their  way  forward; 
while  a  score  of  men,  their  backs 
loaded  with  dove  cages,  struggled  one 
with  another  to  make  their  escape. 

Stretching  forth  his  hand,  she  saw 
the  Master  move  forward  and  address 
those  who  still  tarried  about  the 
booths  and  stalls.  His  first  words 
were  lost  to  her  in  the  surrounding 
turbulence.  But  as  he  spoke  the 
crowds  became  stilled  and  his  voice 
rose  above  the  multitude,  gripping  her 
breath  with  its  intensity.  He  was 
quoting  from  the  Prophet  Jeremiah 
— "Is  this  house,  which  is  called  by 
my  name,  become  a  den  of  robbers 

63 


The  Passover 

in  your  eyes  ?  Behold,  saith  the 
Lord,  mine  anger  and  my  fury  shall 
be  poured  out  upon  this  place,  upon 
man,  and  upon  beast,  and  upon  the 
fruit  of  the  ground,  and  it  shall 
burn,  and  shall  not  be  quenched!" 
His  every  word  rang  throughout  the 
Temple  area.  The  very  atmosphere 
seemed  to  tingle  and  vibrate  with  the 
stress  of  his  eloquence. 

Those  who  had  lingered  in  their  de- 
parture now  hurriedly  took  up  their 
wares  and  followed  in  the  footsteps  of 
the  others,  chagrined  and  overmas- 
tered. Some  of  them,  as  they  went, 
glanced  back  at  the  Master,  mutter- 
ing and  scowling,  only  to  be  instantly 
daunted  by  his  indomitable  and  over- 
ruling presence.  Not  one  had  the 
temerity  to  resist  him.  Before  his 
outstretched  hand  they  yielded  in 
sullen  submission.  Buyers  and  sell- 

64 


An  Interpretation 

ers  alike,  laden  with  the  evidences  of 
their  unholy  trafficking,  passed  out 
without  a  word — all,  save  one,  who 
turned  as  he  reached  the  outer  edge  of 
the  court  and  in  a  voice  hissing  with 
malice  hurled  back  a  stinging  epithet; 
a  taunt,  an  insult,  which  choked  her 
heart  with  its  vileness  and  which  even 
now  at  its  recollection  sent  the  blood  to 
her  cheeks. 

Yet  this  churlish  and  solitary  out- 
burst of  resentment  was  the  only  an- 
swer, the  only  challenge  that  his  start- 
ling and  arbitrary  assumption  of  au- 
thority had  called  forth.  Hundreds 
had  obeyed  him  instantly  and  without 
question;  going  forth  at  his  command 
as  if  in  conscience-stricken  approval 
of  his  denunciation  of  their  conduct; 
while  the  few  who  thought  to  resist 
him  were  driven  out  as  though  his 
words  had  been  a  flaming  lash.  Nor 

65 


The  Passover 

was  there  a  sign  of  protest  from  the 
thousands  who  remained  as  spectators. 
Mingled  with  the  throng  she  saw  num- 
bers of  priests  and  elders  and  Temple 
officials,  as  well  as  scribes  and  Phari- 
sees; yet  not  a  voice,  not  a  hand  was 
raised  against  him. 

Mutely  the  multitude  stood  by  and 
gazed  upon  him;  apparently,  like  her- 
self, astonished,  fascinated,  overawed 
by  his  daring  and  by  the  marvel  of 
what  he  had  done.  There  was  some- 
thing tragic,  almost  terrifying,  at  sight 
of  the  absolute  control  he  held  over 
the  vast  concourse,  high  and  lowly, 
Jews  and  Gentiles  alike,  in  the  per- 
formance of  an  act  so  utterly  defiant 
of  human  authority  and  bespeaking 
such  supreme  indifference  to  public 
opinion  or  individual  considerations. 

To  the  authorities  it  could  not  but 
seem  almost  to  contradict  the  evidence 

66 


An  Interpretation 

of  the  senses,  that  this  man,  alone  and 
unaided,  a  Galilean  carpenter,  without 
title  or  badge  of  authority,  should 
come  into  the  very  stronghold  of  his 
avowed  enemies  and  there  publicly 
defy  them  by  an  open  and  deliberate 
assault  upon  a  practice  which  the  high 
priest  himself  had  sanctioned  and  es- 
tablished. It  was  thus,  for  an  instant, 
that,  looking  upon  him  through  their 
eyes,  she  shared  their  stupefaction  and 
amazement  and  read  therein  the  mean- 
ing of  their  passive  tolerance  of  his 
presence. 

Out  of  her  own  first  astonishment 
rose  an  instant  pride,  an  admiration, 
an  homage,  an  emotion  beyond  her 
analysis,  as  the  import  of  it  all  surged 
upon  her.  Would  the  people  see? 
Would  they  understand?  Did  not, 
indeed,  their  conduct  even  now  speak 
their  recognition,  their  acknowledg- 

67 


The  Passover 

merit  of  him?  Was  there  in  all  Israel 
another  who  would  have  dared  to  do 
this  thing?  Had  not  the  voice  of  the 
people  cried  out  through  him  in  his 
condemnation  of  this  sacrilege?  Was 
he  not  of  a  surety  their  master, 
their  leader?  But — would  they  ac- 
knowledge him  before  the  wrath  of 
the  authorities?  Would  they  re- 
main loyal  in  the  face  of  peril?  And, 
truly,  was  he  not  in  danger?  Had  he 
not  imperiled  his  safety,  his  very  life? 
Had  he  not,  perchance,  incurred  some 
penalty  of  law  by  his  act  of  reforma- 
tion? 

Her  questions  filled  her  with  a  confu- 
sion of  exaltation  and  alarm.  She 
knew  not  what  to  expect.  She  feared 
to  think  what  might  befall  him  in  this 
his  hour  of  righteous  triumph.  Her 
voice  seemed  struggling  to  cry  out;  to 
cry  his  name.  She  longed  to  go  to 

68 


An  Interpretation 

Mm,  to  stand  beside  him,  to  share  with 
him  whatever  of  evil  might  come  upon 
him. 

With  her  eyes  fixed  upon  him  she 
watched  him  calmly  turn  and  face  one 
of  the  gates  of  the  inner  court,  even  as 
the  people  were  now  doing  with  mur- 
murs of  curiosity  and  excitement. 
And  as  her  attention  followed  his  gaze 
she  caught  the  sound  of  approaching 
steps  in  measured  tramp,  with  the  in- 
termittent clank  of  arms,  and  pres- 
ently, mingled  with  it,  the  hurried 
tinkle  of  bells. 

Once  more  the  crowd  fell  back,  leav- 
ing clear  a  still  greater  space  in  the 
center  of  the  court.  She  drew  instinc- 
tively closer  to  Lazarus,  her  body 
aquiver  with  a  sense  of  impending 
calamity.  He,  too,  seemed  stirred  with 
apprehension.  He  placed  his  hand  on 
her  arm  as  if  in  readiness  to  shield 


The  Passover 

her;  and  together  as  they  looked  they 
saw  the  high  priest  with  his  guard  of 
Roman  spearmen  enter  the  open  space 
and  approach  the  Master. 

Had  she  not  heard  the  name  "Caia- 
phas"  breathed  in  awed  whisper  about 
her,  she  would  none  the  less  have 
known  it  was  he.  His  imperious  bear- 
ing and  the  splendor  of  his  distinctive 
dress  at  once  proclaimed  him.  Despite 
her  agitation,  she  could  not  but  observe 
his  purple  mitre  and  its  golden  epi- 
graph; his  violet  robe,  blazoned  with 
embroidered  pomegranates  in  red  and 
crimson,  and  edged  with  a  row  of 
golden  bells  which  noised  his  every 
movement;  his  gorgeous-colored  coat, 
clasped  on  each  shoulder  with  a  brooch 
of  onyx  and  girdled  with  a  scarlet  sash 
of  richest  silk ;  and  upon  his  breast,  fas- 
tened with  rings  of  gold  and  blue  silken 
cords,  the  sacred  breastplate  of  the 
70 


An  Interpretation 

high  priest,  scintillating  with  the 
brilliancy  of  its  twelve  emblematic 
jewels. 

In  the  pomp  of  his  glittering  vest- 
ments and  armored  bodyguard  and  in 
the  majesty  of  his  exalted  rank,  he 
halted  before  the  Galilean  teacher. 

Face  to  face  they  stood  for  a  breath- 
less moment  without  speaking. 

Alone  and  defenceless,  his  simple 
provincial  garb  paling  into  shabbiness 
before  the  magnificence  of  the  other's 
raiment,  the  Master  returned  with  a 
look  of  calm  interrogation  the  accosting 
stare  of  the  Imperious  ruler  of  the 
Temple. 

"Who  are  you  who  has  dared  to  do 
this  thing!" 

The  words  of  the  high  priest,  thun- 
dered in  a  voice  of  official  wrath  and 
outraged  dignity,  fell  terrifying  upon 
her  ears  as  the  infuriate  outburst  of  a 

71 


The  Passover 

storm.  His  hand  upraised,  trembling 
in  its  gesture  of  menace,  and  his  ful- 
some countenance  red  with  fury,  he 
bent  forward  toward  his  opponent, 
glowering  and  venomous. 

"Who  are  you!" 

The  repeated  demand,  with  all  its 
brutality  of  contempt  and  snarling 
hatred,  was  hurled  into  the  very  face 
of  the  Master. 

She  felt,  she  shared  with  him,  the 
flush  that  sprang  burning  to  his  cheek. 
Were  she  a  man  she  would  have  leaped 
forward  and  in  the  face  of  destruction 
made  answer  for  him.  Her  eyes  went 
blind  with  tears.  The  throbbing  of  her 
temples  seemed  to  deafen  her,  as  in 
the  tense  silence  of  the  multitude  she 
awaited  his  response. 

Through  the  blur  of  her  vision  she 
saw  him  slowly  raise  his  hand  and  draw 
himself  up  to  his  full  height.  His  lips 

72 


An  Interpretation 

parted,  lie  was  about  to  speak,  when 
suddenly,  out  of  the  stillness,  came  the 
voice  of  a  child  in  clear,  ringing  treble : 

"Hosanna  to  the  son  of  David!" 

In  an  instant  the  cry  was  multiplied. 
From  all  parts  of  the  court  rose  an  im- 
pulsive chorus  of  children's  voices,  re- 
peating in  spontaneous  accord  the  song 
of  praise  with  which  their  elders  had 
hailed  the  Master  on  yester  morning: 

"Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the 

name  of  the  Lord! 
Hosanna  to  the  son  of  David! 
Hosanna  in  the  highest!" 

She  found  her  own  voice  swelling  the 
the  final  outburst.  About  her,  every- 
where, men  and  women  were  taking  up 
the  words  of  the  children  and  shouting 
them  forth  in  exultant  relief.  A  wild 
enthusiasm  had  seized  upon  the  assem- 

73 


The  Passover 

bled  host.  The  unholy  clamor  of  the 
market-place  was  transformed  into  a 
tumult  of  joy  and  religious  ardor.  The 
crowds  swayed  and  moved  forward, 
gesticulating  and  crying  the  name  of 
Jesus  in  expressions  of  praise  and  ac- 
clamation : 

"Hosanna  to  the  son  of  David!" 

The  people  had  made  answer  for  him. 
They  had  proclaimed  him  in  the  face  of 
official  impeachment.  In  the  very 
presence  of  the  high  priest  they  rejoiced 
in  the  rebuke  that  Jesus  had  adminis- 
tered to  him.  The  man  that  Caiaphas 
had  sought  to  accuse  and  humiliate 
before  them,  they  were  applauding  as 
their  leader,  as  the  nation's  savior; 
nay,  as  their  ruler ;  for  amid  the  shouts 
that  assailed  the  air  she  heard  ever 
and  again  the  cry  of  king — "Jesus, 
our  king!  Hail  to  the  king,  the  son 

74 


An  Interpretation 

of  David!  Hosanna  in  the  highest!" 
She  saw  him  turn  and  acknowledge 
the  cries  of  the  people  with  a  look  of 
gratitude,  yet  accompanied  with  a  ges- 
ture of  deprecation.  Without  deign- 
ing again  to  notice  the  high  priest  he 
moved  forward  toward  the  porch  of 
Solomon  and  was  lost  to  her  sight  in  the 
acclaiming  throng  that  surrounded  and 
followed  him. 

Had  he  not  indeed  won  the  hearts  and 
the  understanding  of  the  people?  Was 
she  not  herself  a  witness  to  the  tri- 
umphant crowning  of  his  long  and  bit- 
ter struggle  for  recognition?  The  an- 
swer was  blazoned  in  the  air.  It  was 
upon  the  tongues  and  upon  the  faces 
of  all  men.  Even  yet  the  clamor  of  its 
affirmation  beat  upon  her  ears.  Yet 
the  spirit  within  her  did  not  respond. 
Knowing  not  what  to  speak,  how  to 
make  manifest  that  which  lay  within  its 

75 


The  Passover 

untutored  depths,  it  touched  her  heart 
and  set  it  atremble  with  questioning 
unrest,  even  as  it  glowed  with  her 
bounding  joy  and  exultation. 

•  •»*••• 

But  now,  as  the  memory  of  it  all  came 
back  to  her,  enveloped  in  the  gloomed 
and  torturing  shadow  of  Judas,  she 
read  its  meaning — and  understood. 

The  doubt,  the  fear,  the  inquietude, 
that  had  lurked  unbidden  and  unformed 
amid  the  scenes  and  the  remembrances 
of  yesterday,  now  spoke  their  message. 
And  in  the  revelation  that  now  came  to 
her  out  of  darkness  she  recounted  with 
a  new  understanding  the  words  the 
Master  had  spoken  to  her  when  last  he 
had  sat  with  her  in  this  his  favorite 
resting  place  within  the  garden. 

He  was  speaking  to  her  beneath  the 
olive  tree.  She  heard  again  each  word 
as  it  fell  from  his  lips.  With  out- 

76 


An  Interpretation 

stretched  hands  she  approached  and 
drew  near,  as  if  in  reality  he  were 
there.  In  the  eerie  twilight  and  the 
uncertain  shadows  cast  by  the  tree 
upon  the  garden  seat,  she  seemed  now 
to  see  him,  resting  in  half  reclining  atti- 
tude  in  his  accustomed  place,  with  her- 
self seated  at  his  feet  absorbed  in  the 
wondrous  music  of  his  voice. 

With  a  stifled,  half  frightened  cry, 
she  sank  upon  her  knees,  and  throwing 
her  arms  upon  the  edge  of  the  seat 
bowed  her  head  upon  them  and  shook 
with  the  sobbing  of  an  overburdened 
heart. 


77 


in 


in 

Martha  ceased  her  singing.  The 
evening  meal  which  she  had  been  pre- 
paring with  leisurely  accustom  was 
now  ready  and  awaited  only  the  ar- 
rival of  its  partakers.  It  was  the  com- 
mon evening  repast  of  Judean  villag- 
ers, consisting  simply  of  milk  and 
bread  with  bits  of  cold  mutton,  and 
some  dried  fruit,  and  in  recognition  of 
the  advent  of  spring  was  spread  on  its 
low  table  under  an  arbor  in  the  court- 
yard. 

A  high  wall,  verdured  by  masses  of 
shrubbery  and  running  vines,  formed 
two  sides  of  the  court  and  shut  it  in 
from  the  gaze  of  the  street.  Dividing 
it  from  the  garden  was  a  hedge  of 
8l 


The  Passover 

pomegranate  bushes,  their  dark-green 
foliage  aglow  with  the  warmth  of  their 
crimson  blossoms;  while  the  house  it- 
self, a  simple,  white-stone  cottage,  ex- 
tending across  the  end  of  the  court, 
completed  the  enclosure. 

In  the  center  lay  a  circular  stone 
basin  brimming  with  mountain  water. 
Moss  and  creeping  plants  covered  the 
low  coping  and  lent  an  added  touch  of 
freshness  to  the  shallow  pool,  whose 
clear,  unruffled  surface  mirrored  the 
twilit  sky  in  soft  reflection.  The  per- 
fume of  some  early-flowering  grape 
blossoms  filled  the  air  with  fragrant 
prophecies  of  summer,  while  the 
trickle  of  water  in  drowsy  overflow  and 
the  hum  of  tarrying  bees  gave  audible 
expression  to  the  spirit  of  peace  and 
quietude  that  rested  upon  this  garden- 
cloistered  home  of  Lazarus  and  his  two 
sisters. 

82 


An  Interpretation 

Martha  was  the  housekeeper  of  the 
little  family.  In  measure  of  years  she 
was  still  a  young  woman;  but,  as  a 
widowed  housewife,  faithful  to  the 
customs  of  her  people,  she  had  subordi- 
nated without  question  the  charms  and 
aspirations  of  youth  to  a  settled  life  of 
domestic  fealty.  Her  brief  married 
life,  now  a  mistful  memory  of  seven 
winters,  had  come  to  a  close  ere  she  had 
passed  the  threshold  of  her  twentieth 
year;  a  bereavement  still  attested  by 
her  style  of  head-dress — a  close-fitting 
wimple,  framing  her  face  in  oval  out- 
line— and  by  the  distinctive  plainness 
of  her  dark  woolen  gown.  Full-sleeved 
and  girdled  primly  above  the  waist,  it 
reached  from  her  neck  to  her  ankles,  a 
loose,  cloak-like  garment,  without  re- 
lief of  ornament  or  color.  A  mantle 
of  the  same  material,  thrown  across  her 
shoulders,  completed  her  brightless  at- 

83 


tire,  except  for  a  bracelet  of  unburn- 
ished  silver  which  circled  her  left  arm. 

Her  task  completed,  she  walked 
across  the  courtyard  and  opened  the 
gate.  Partially  concealing  her  face 
with  her  mantle,  she  looked  out  upon 
the  street,  a  narrow,  uneven  road  wind- 
ing down  the  village  hillside  between 
vineyard  hedges  and  the  blank  walls  of 
a  few  scattered  houses.  There  was  no 
one  in  sight,  save  a  boy  swinging  a 
water  jar  and  strolling  with  laggard 
feet  on  his  way  to  the  village  fountain. 
From  her  station  in  the  gateway  she 
watched  him  with  indolent  curiosity 
until  he  disappeared  from  view  beyond 
the  bend  at  the  foot  of  the  hill. 

For  some  time  longer  she  continued 
at  her  post,  picking  idly  at  a  wayside 
stalk  of  coriander  and  scanning  the 
empty  road  with  expectant  gaze.  The 
street  remained  deserted;  and  only  the 

84 


An  Interpretation 

distant  ripple  of  women's  laughter 
from  the  direction  of  the  fountain 
stirred  the  quiet  of  the  evening. 

Finally,  with  a  murmur  expressive 
of  disappointment,  she  relinquished 
her  vigil  and  was  about  to  step  back 
into  the  court,  when  a  man,  bearing 
himself  with  the  familiar  dignity  of 
a  Pharisee,  though  without  the  usual 
embellishments  of  dress,  turned  into 
the  street  and  came  forward  up  the 
hill.  With  her  hand  upon  the  latch  she 
tarried  within  the  shadow  of  the  gate 
and  observed  him  with  the  character- 
istic interest  of  a  villager  curious  to 
identify  a  stranger  or  ascertain  his 
destination;  and  when  assured  by  his 
near  approach  that  he  was  seeking  her 
house  and  would  speak  to  her,  she  re- 
mained standing  in  the  gateway  and 
with  downcast  eyes  awaited  his  greet- 
ing. 

85 


The  Passover 

"Peace  be  unto  you,  daughter  of 
Israel."  He  halted  before  the  gate, 
and  smiled  upon  her  with  kindly  com- 
plaisance as  she  looked  up  and  returned 
his  salutation.  "You  do  not  recog- 
nize me,"  he  went  on;  "yet  do  I  know 
you  to  be  Lazarus 's  sister  Martha, 
widow  of  Amariah.  I  am  told,  Martha, 
that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  lodges  here 
with  you.  Go  and  say  to  him  that  a 
friend  awaits  him  without,  who  has  that 
to  say  to  him  which  will  rejoice  his 
heart." 

"Eabbi  Jesus  does  indeed  lodge  with 
us,"  responded  Martha;  "but  he  has 
not  yet  this  day  returned  from  the  city, 
nor  do  I  know  at  what  hour  to  expect 
him.  He  might  perchance  be  coming 
even  now  with  my  brother  Lazarus,  in 
search  of  whose  arrival  you  find  me  at 
the  gate.  However,  I  pray,  sir,  that 

86 


An  Interpretation 

you  will  enter  and  wait  for  him  and 
share  with  us  our  meal. ' ' 

"No,"  returned  the  man,  "I  cannot 
tarry.  Only  now  am  I  come  up  from 
Jericho  and  must  hasten  onward  with 
my  party,  that  we  may  reach  the  city 
before  nightfall. ' ' 

"Will  you  not  then  leave  with  me 
your  message  for  the  Rabbi,"  inquired 
Martha,  "or  make  known  to  me  your 
name,  that  I  may  tell  him  which  friend 
of  his  was  here?" 

"Rabbi  Jesus  does  not  know  me,"  re- 
sponded the  stranger.  "Never  has  he 
spoken  to  me.  Perhance  his  eyes  have 
never  rested  on  me.  If  ever  he  has 
heard  my  name  it  has  been  to  him  but 
the  name  of  a  scribe  noted  for  his  hard- 
ness of  heart  and  his  contempt  for  the 
teachings  of  a  Galilean.  Neverthe- 
less, has  he  now  no  truer  friend  than  I ; 

87 


The  Passover 

no  more  affectionate  disciple ;  nor  does 
there  live  upon  the  earth  a  man  who 
holds  for  him  a  deeper  gratitude  and 
reverence.  It  was  but  to  tell  him  this, 
that  I  turned  aside  upon  my  way ;  to  tell 
him  that  through  him  have  I  received 
the  Light ;  that  verily  do  I  know  that  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand. ' ' 

Martha  answered  his  pause  with  a 
look  of  questioning  surprise.  "Aye, 
well  may  you  marvel/'  he  assured  her, 
"that  a  scribe  of  the  school  of  Sham- 
mai  should  thus  cast  aside  the  preju- 
dices of  his  training  and  traditions  and 
accept  the  word  of  an  unschooled  Naza- 
rene.  Yet  I  say  to  you,  Martha,  that 
were  it  given  to  a  woman  to  under- 
stand these  things,  you  would  know 
that  this  is  the  least  of  the  miracles 
that  lie  within  the  power  of  the  Spirit. 
In  this  Nazarene  is  the  Truth ;  through 
him  is  the  Spirit  vouchsafed  of  God  to 

88 


An  Interpretation 

men.  Though  he  has  not  so  much  as 
placed  his  hand  upon  me  or  breathed 
on  me  a  conscious  blessing,  yet  in  his 
name  and  in  the  name  of  the  Father 
am  I  able  to  heal  the  sick  and  to  cast 
out  demons  and  to  gather  to  myself 
whatsoever  of  good  my  soul  desires ;  for 
in  me,  through  my  acceptance  of  him 
as  the  Light  of  God,  is  the  Spirit  be- 
come revealed,  and  the  Truth  has  made 
me  free.  If,  therefore,  these  signs 
which  now  attend  me  in  evidence  of  my 
faith  are  not  present  with  any  man  who 
claims  to  follow  him  and  honor  him, 
it  does  but  demonstrate  he  does  not 
truly  know  him;  for  as  I  have  myself 
heard  him  declare,  and  as  my  own  ex- 
perience teaches  me,  those  who  in  faith 
believe  his  words  and  understand  him, 
and  in  their  hearts  accept  the  Truth, 
shall  do  the  works  that  he  does  and 
make  manifest  their  oneness  with 

89 


The  Passover 

the  Father.  .  .  .  Tell  me,  Martha : 
who  say  you  that  Jesus  is,  and  what 
say  your  brother  and  your  neighbors!" 

"Truly,  sir,"  answered  Martha  in 
some  confusion,  "as  a  woman  and  one 
devoted  in  true  conscience  to  her 
allotted  place,  I  am  not  competent  to 
discuss  the  teachings  or  the  person  of 
our  guest.  My  duty  unto  him  is  to  be 
watchful  of  his  comfort  and  to  see  that 
he  is  satisfied  in  those  material  things 
which  all  too  often  are  forgot  by  others 
in  thinking  overmuch  upon  the  giving  of 
their  hearts  and  minds.  That  Rabbi 
Jesus  is  a  teacher  and  physician  gifted 
of  God  with  wisdom  and  rare  power,  is 
all  that  is  given  me  to  say,  save  only 
that  he  is  our  friend,  best  loved  of  any 
that  we  have. ' ' 

"And  do  you,  Martha,  speak  thus 
guardedly? — you,  who  with  your  own 
eyes  have  beheld  him  triumph  over 
90 


An  Interpretation 

death? — you,  to  whom  it  has  been  given 
to  stand  in  the  presence  of  Jehovah  as 
witness  to  a  miracle  transcending  in  its 
marvel  the  mightiest  works  of  the 
prophets?  Do  you  forget  what,  scarce 
four  months  ago,  took  place  at  the  sep- 
ulcher  in  yonder  field? " 

"Nay,  chide  me  not  with  forgetful- 
ness  of  his  goodness  and  compassion  on 
that  occasion,  nor  of  the  marvel  of  our 
beloved  brother's  return  to  us  from  the 
tomb.  Believe  me,  sir,  these  things 
shall  remain  forever  in  my  memory." 

"But  does  not  the  resurrection  of 
your  brother  from  the  grave  have 
meaning  to  you  concerning  the  office 
and  the  character  of  Jesus?  By  what 
power,  think  you,  did  he  do  this  won- 
der?" 

"Sir,  I  know  not.  The  powers  that 
are  given  to  physicians  to  heal  the  sick 
and  restore  the  dead  are  beyond  my 

91 


The  Passover 

understanding.  Eabbi  Aaron  Ben 
Nemuel,  of  Bethphage,  who  was  with 
us  at  the  restoring  of  Lazarus,  de- 
clares that  he  himself  once  brought  to 
life  a  man  upon  his  bier;  and,  more- 
over, have  I  often  heard  it  said,  that 
one  may  seem  to  die  and  to  the  sight 
and  touch  become  a  corpse,  beyond  all 
sign  of  breath,  and  yet  be  only  sleep- 
ing. But  mysteries  such  as  these  are 
not  for  women  to  discuss  or  strive  to 
understand.  They  are  of  God,  and 
none  but  doctors  and  the  wiser  men 
may  give  them  meaning.  Therefore, 
my  lord,  I  only  know,  that,  whereas  my 
brother  Lazarus  was  as  one  dead,  and 
buried,  he  now  lives  and  is  with  us  again 
in  health,  through  the  goodness  and  the 
power  of  Eabbi  Jesus." 

"Aye,  Martha,  it  were  indeed  idle  for 
you  to  seek  to  know  the  Truth,  for  the 
light   is   not   in   you!    As    Jeremiah 
92 


An  Interpretation 

lamented  over  the  people  because  of 
their  ignorance,  so  do  I  say  to  you, 
Hear  now  this,  0  foolish  woman,  and 
without  understanding;  who  have  eyes, 
and  see  not;  who  have  ears,  and  hear 
not:  He  whom  you  shelter  beneath 
your  roof  is  more  than  rabbi,  more 
than  physician ;  aye,  more  than  prophet. 
He  is  the  Christ,  the  Messiah,  the 
Anointed  of  God  for  the  salvation 
of  Israel!  This  do  I  declare  to  you 
through  the  Spirit.  Nevertheless,  you 
will  not  receive  it;  for  if  by  that 
evidence  through  which  my  eyes  were 
opened — a  stranger  and  a  scoffer — 
this  revelation  was  not  borne  in  to  you, 
no  words  of  mine  can  carry  fire  to  your 
heart.  Think  not,  however,  that  I 
chide  you,  Martha.  My  heart  has  only 
pity ;  and  not  alone  for  you,  but  for  the 
others  there  among  you  who  on  that 
day  of  revelation  beheld  the  Light,  and 

93 


The  Passover 

knew  it  not.  And  yet  how  anyone  can 
live  within  the  memory  of  that  scene 
and  fail  to  know  the  Truth,  transcends 
my  understanding. 

"Before  me  now,  as  in  the  dusk  I 
stand  again  within  the  precincts  of 
-your  home,  I  see  the  wondrous  specta- 
cle repeated:  With  my  companion, 
Eabbi  Tola — myself  a  stranger  to  your 
house — I  come  to  join  the  mourners 
on  the  fourth  day  of  your  sorrow.  And 
while  we  sit  soft-moaning  in  the  dark- 
ened room,  suddenly  your  sister  Mary 
rises  and  hurries  forth.  'Tis  whis- 
pered to  us,  'She  is  gone  to  mourn  be- 
fore the  tomb;'  and  straightway,  as 
her  comforters,  we  follow  her;  when, 
lo !  before  we  reach  the  burial  field,  we 
see  her  fallen  prostrate  at  the  feet  of 
Jesus,  the  Nazarene  carpenter,  asso- 
ciate of  publicans  and  sinners,  an  out- 

94 


An  Interpretation 

cast  from  the  city  synagogues,  a  man 
whom  I  and  all  my  friends  despise. 

"  'Where  is  he  laid?'  we  hear  him 
ask,  and  straightway  you  and  Mary 
lead  the  way.  And  when  we  come  be- 
fore the  grave  we  see  that  he  is  weep- 
ing. My  heart  goes  out  to  him  in  sud- 
den strange  compassion.  I  know  not 
why  it  is;  for  in  my  mind  I  scorn  him 
and  I  ask,  why,  if  so  tenderly  he  loved 
this  friend,  he  did  not  save  his  life 
through  that  inspired  power  which  he 
claims  to  have  from  God  for  giving 
health  to  lepers  and  purging  men  of  sin. 
And  when  in  gentle  voice  he  asks  that 
we  will  move  the  stone  that  shuts  the 
grave,  I  am  amazed  and  rilled  with 
nameless  fear.  And  yet  at  once,  scarce 
knowing  why  I  answer  his  command,  I 
help  with  others  to  remove  the  heavy 
seal. 

95 


The  Passover 

"And  now  the  sepulcher  stands  open, 
black  in  its  mystery  of  death;  and  all 
is  still.  The  calm  of  evening  broods 
upon  the  scene.  The  breath  that  whis- 
pered from  the  wilderness  is  gone. 
There  is  no  sound,  except  the  mur- 
mured weeping  of  the  women.  A  lone- 
liness, a  dread  expectancy,  a  silence 
tense  with  holy  awe,  enwraps  us  as  an 
overshadowing  presence.  The  lips  of 
Jesus  move  as  if  in  prayer;  and  as  I 
gaze  upon  his  shrouded  form  I  see  a 
light,  a  sudden  glory,  come  upon  him; 
and  trembling  as  a  frightened  child  I 
sink  upon  my  knees.  I  seek  to  close 
my  eyes,  but  some  resisting  power 
holds  my  gaze  upon  him.  And  now  I 
see  him  raise  his  head  and  look  within 
the  darkness  of  the  cavern.  I  hear  him 
speak.  He  calls  aloud  to  him  who  lies 
within  the  tomb.  His  voice  is  as  the 
voice  of  God.  The  very  heavens  seem 

96 


An  Interpretation 

to  speak  the  words:  'Lazarus,  come 
forth!'  And,  lo !  scarce  has  the  silence 
come  again  upon  my  startled  ears, 
when  he,  that  Lazarus  who  was  dead, 
appears  before  us  at  the  opening  of  the 
grave ! ' ' 

Martha  looked  up.  The  stranger 
had  stopped  abruptly.  She  saw  him 
gazing  into  space,  his  eyes  wide-oped 
and  fixed  as  on  some  wondrous  vision. 

Slowly  he  again  turned  to  her,  and 
lifting  his  hand  in  benediction  spoke 
with  solemn  impressiveness :  ''Blessed 
are  you,  Martha ;  blessed  is  this  house ; 
for,  though  you  know  not  the  reason 
thereof,  the  name  of  your  home  with 
that  of  Abraham's  at  Mamre  shall  be 
hallowed  in  the  memory  of  men  for  all 
time  to  come.  The  Lord  keep  you  and 
give  you  peace." 

Not  until  he  disappeared  from  sight 
and  the  street  was  again  deserted  did 

97 


The  Passover 

Martha  stir  from  her  place.  Stepping 
out  once  more,  to  command  a  better 
view  of  the  road,  she  looked  searchingly 
down  the  hill.  No  one  was  coming; 
the  street  remained  empty.  With  a 
shrug  of  impatience,  she  drew  back  into 
the  court  and  closed  the  gate. 

As  she  faced  thoughtfully  about  she 
found  Mary  standing  beside  her. 

"Lazarus  is  not  yet  coming,"  she  an- 
nounced, in  answer  to  Mary's  un- 
spoken question,  '  *  and  we  shall  have  to 
wait  our  meal  for  him.  However,  he 
must  soon  be  here,  for  he  thought  to 
return  a  full  hour  before  this.  As  to 
Eabbi  Jesus,  we  can  only  hope  he  will 
be  here  to  take  supper  with  us ;  but  as 
he  did  not  lead  us  to  expect  him  before 
nightfall,  we  probably  ought  not  to  look 
for  him  for  another  hour  or  more." 

"Perhaps  we  ought  not  to  expect  the 
Master  even  then,"  rejoined  Mary. 


An  Interpretation 

"If  he  is  weary  and  overworn  with  the 
day's  trials,  were  it  not  better  that  he 
rest  nearer  the  city?" 

Martha  did  not  detect  the  note  of  ap- 
peal in  her  sister's  question.  "Yes," 
she  answered  decisively,  "it  would  in- 
deed seem  the  wiser  thing  to  do.  He 
should  spare  himself  any  needless  fa- 
tigue. He  has  call  for  every  minim  of 
his  strength.  Indeed,  I  sometimes  fear 
that  our  pride  at  having  him  with  us 
makes  us  unmindful  of  the  added  time 
and  effort  that  the  walk  across  the 
mount  demands  of  him.  And  that  he 
should  thus  come  to  us,  when  at  times 
he  scarce  can  speak  for  weariness  and 
he  might  so  readily  bide  in  comfort  and 
equal  safety  among  his  friends  in  the 
city  or  at  Bethphage,  is  but  another  of 
the  many  things  beyond  our  compre- 
hension. Truly,  we  ought  not  to  expect 
him  day  after  day.  Perhaps  we  do 

99 


The  Passover 

wrong  in  urging  our  hospitality  upon 
Mm  during  these  days  of  exacting  du- 
ties and  hardship,  when  he  has  need  of 
every  moment  of  rest." 

Mary  took  hold  of  Martha's  sleeve. 
"Then  surely  we  must  not  look  for  him 
to-night,"  she  said.  "Of  all  days,  this 
has  been  for  him  the  hardest  and  most 
trying.  He  has  been  speaking  since 
early  morning,'  without  food  or  rest. 
Think  of  it,  sister — in  all  the  heat  of 
this  day,  within  the  stifling  closures  of 
the  Temple,  hour  after  hour,  and  not  a 
mouthful  to  eat,  and  not  a  moment's 
rest!  .  .  .  But,  0  sister,  it  is  not 
that  alone!  It  is  not  only  that  he  is 
faint  and  weary  of  body ;  he  is  sick  at 
heart.  His  spirit  is  overborne  with 
grief  and  disappointment.  He  was  not 
welcomed  by  the  people.  They  did  not 
receive  him  gladly.  They  are  not 
ready  to  accept  him.  Oh,  the  cruelty 

1OO 


An  Interpretation 

of  it !  the  pain ;  the  bitter,  bitter  disap- 
pointment, after  the  glorious  promise 
of  yesterday ! ' ' 

She  choked  back  a  sob,  and  drawing 
closer  to  her  sister  went  on  with  throb- 
bing intensity : 

"His  labors  among  them  are  gone 
for  nought!  They  do  not  understand 
him — nay,  they  will  not!  They  have 
hardened  their  hearts  against  him. 
Their  homage  of  yesterday  is  become  a 
mockery.  In  their  blindness  they  are 
turning  from  him ;  even — even  his  dis- 
ciples! Oh,  why  will  they  not  see! 
Will  the  light  never  come  to  them? 
Will  they  never  know,  never  under- 
stand?" 

Martha  laid  her  hand  for  a  moment 
on  Mary's  bowed  head.  "Truly,  the 
Master  has  had  much  to  bear,"  she  said 
consolingly,  "and  disappointment  has 
followed  only  too  often  upon  his  labors. 
1O1 


The  Passover 

But  do  not  let  your  fancy  become  over- 
wrought, for  perchance  in  his  own  heart 
and  understanding  he  was  well  pre- 
pared for  the  reaction  which  even  I 
might  have  told  you  must  surely  follow 
upon  the  thoughtless  excitement  of  the 
past  two  days.  But  what  have  you 
heard?  Who  has  told  you  of  the  day's 
happenings  in  the  city  1 ' ' 

The  sisters  had  moved  slowly  across 
the  courtyard  and  stood  now  by  the  ta- 
ble, beneath  the  arbor.  Hidden  thus 
from  view  of  the  gate  they  had  not  ob- 
served the  entrance  of  Judas. 

He  had  come  in  quietly  and  was 
about  to  approach  the  house,  when  he 
became  aware  of  the  sisters'  presence. 
Overhearing  Martha's  question,  he 
halted  near  the  gate,  within  the  shadow 
of  a  tree,  and  waited  there,  a  listener 
to  their  conversation,  without  making 
his  presence  known. 
102 


An  Interpretation 

"What  news  have  you  heard?"  re- 
peated Martha.  "Have  you  talked 
with  anyone  who  has  been  in  Jerusalem 
to-day?" 

"Yes,"  responded  Mary;  "Judas 
was  here,  in  the  garden,  a  short  time 
ago.  He  told  me." 

"And  if  the  news  he  bore  was  indeed 
so  grave  as  your  fancy  has  pictured  it, 
would  he  not  also  have  come  to  me? 
and  would  there  not  have  been  others, 
among  our  neighbors,  who  would 
sooner  have  told  us?  Let  not  your 
heart,  dear  Mary,  be  so  readily  trou- 
bled with  imaginings.  Was  it  not,  in- 
deed, upon  quite  another  matter — on 
business  of  his  own — that  Judas  came 
to  talk  to  you?" 

"That  you  have  spoken  truly,  sister, 
makes  only  the  more  pitiful  his  uncon- 
cern for  the  Master.  He  would  speak 
only  of  himself,  think  only  of  himself, 
103 


The  Passover 

when  his  every  thought  and  effort 
should  have  been  for  the  comfort  of 
the  Master." 

1 1  Then  he  did  speak  to  you  on  a  per- 
sonal matter— on  a  matter  concerning 
yourself?" 

"Yes ;  it  was  that  for  which  he  came. 
.  .  .  But  it  cannot  be,  sister.  You 
and  Lazarus  would  not  ask  that  I 
marry  a  man  against  whom  my  heart 
rebels." 

"We  had  hoped  he  might  find  favor 
in  your  eyes.  He  thinks  well  of  you, 
Mary,  and  he  would  make  you  a  good 
husband.  Morever,  it  is  but  seemly 
that  a  maiden  of  your  age  should  not 
longer  delay  the  duty  ordained  for  her 
by  the  Law." 

"I  only  wait,  sister,  for  you  and 
Lazarus  to  approve  my  choice  and  ar- 
range the  settlement.  I  have  given 

104 


An  Interpretation 

my  promise.  I  am  ready  to  be  be- 
trothed." 

"Then  your  choice  remains  steadfast 
with  Gamaliel?  Is  it  because  you 
truly  care  for  him?" 

Mary  sought  her  sister's  hand.  "I 
am  content  to  wed  Gamaliel,  that  the 
Law  may  be  fulfilled,  and  to  be  to  him 
a  helpmate  and  the  bearer  of  his  chil- 
dren. Neither  he  nor  the  Scriptures 
can  ask  more  than  this."  Then  clasp- 
ing Martha's  hand  in  both  of  hers,  she 
added  with  sudden  emotion,  "But  is  it 
meet,  is  it  right  before  God?  Answer 
me,  sister:  were  it  not  better,  were  it 
not  holier,  that  a  woman  remain  a 
virgin,  than  that  she  give  herself  in 
wedlock  unto  one  and  bear  within  her 
heart  the  image  of  another?" 

Martha  returned  her  sister's  gaze 
with  a  look  of  troubled  wonderment. 

105 


The  Passover 

"  These  are  strange  thoughts  for  a 
Jewish  maiden,"  she  commented  sol- 
emnly. "It  is  not  given  to  the  women 
of  God's  people  to  set  their  heart's  de- 
sires against  the  Commandments  or 
against  the  wisdom  of  their  elders.  If, 
therefore,  your  thoughts  incline  to  one 
whose  life  God  has  decreed  shall  not  be 
joined  with  yours,  your  duty  lies  full 
clear :  to  put  him  resolutely  from  your 
heart  and  to  fortify  your  spirit  for  all 
time  against  the  thought  of  him. ' ' 

"No!  no!  0  sister,  do  you  not 
know  of  whom  I  speak ! ' '  With  a  sob 
like  that  of  a  child's,  Mary  bowed  her 
head  upon  Martha's  bosom.  "It  were 
easier  to  stop  the  beating  of  my  heart 
than  to  efface  from  it  the  thought  of 
him!  .  .  .  No!  no!  It  is  the 
thought  of  him  that  pulses  in  my  every 
breath!  It  is  my  life;  my  being! 
There  is  no  moment,  waking  or  in 
106 


An  Interpretation 

dreams,  that  is  not  hallowed  by  the 
thought  of  him!  ...  If  this  be 
love,  and  if  the  love  of  woman  for  a 
man  be  sinful  in  the  sight  of  Heaven, 
may  God  have  mercy  on  me ! ' ' 

Martha  did  not  at  once  respond. 
Her  eyes,  lighting  for  a  moment  with 
an  expression  of  pained  understand- 
ing, grew  dim  with  instant  sympathy. 
She  drew  Mary  closer  to  her,  and  with 
a  touch  of  comforting  tenderness 
passed  her  hand  softly  across  her  sis- 
ter's cheek.  "Tell  me,  Mary,"  she 
questioned,  finally — "why  have  you 
not  spoken  of  this  before?" 

*  *  I  could  not.  I  would  not.  I  meant 
not  to  have  spoken  of  it  now,  but  my 
heart  has  cried  out  in  its  pain.  For- 
give me,  sister.  Do  not  chide  me. 
Bear  with  me  in  this  my  hour  of  dark- 
ness." 

"I   have   nought    to    forgive,    dear 

107 


The  Passover 

child;  nought  to  chide  you  for,  save 
only  that  you  have  waited  until  this 
day  to  share  your  burden  with  me." 

"No,  sister;  no!  Do  not  ask  that  I 
should  sooner  have  shared  it  with  'you. 
I  would  that  I  might  for  all  time  have 
borne  it  in  silence.  I  have  prayed  that 
never  might  there  be  need  that  even 
you  should  know — only  the  Father. 
Each  day  I  have  cried  to  Heaven  for 
strength  to  uphold  me.  Each  day  I 
have  prayed  for  courage  and  sustain- 
ing comfort.  It  is  not  that  God  has 
not  heard  me  or  has  forsaken  me:  It 
is  but  because  I  am  weak  and  un- 
worthy, that  in  this  hour  I  am  fallen 
before  the  storm." 

With  caressing  fingers  Martha 
brushed  back  the  hair  from  Mary's 
brow.  "And  he?"  she  asked — "does 
he  know  aught  of  this?" 

"Our    Father    in    heaven    forbid! 

108 


An  Interpretation 

Oh,  pray  with  me,  sister,  that  it  may 
not  be!  Yea,  rather  may  my  spirit 
perish  than  that  for  one  short  moment 
he  should  glimpse  the  passion  of  my 
heart !  Nor  do  I  pray  this  only  that  I 
thus  may  spare  my  shame,  but  that  he 
may  not  know  my  grief;  and  knowing, 
suffer  with  me.  Therefore,  God  grant 
it  shall  not  be!  .  .  .  And,  Oh, 
pray  with  me,  sister,  that  his  life  be 
spared  a  tribulation  such  as  mine !  All 
else  his  heart  has  borne  and  suffered. 
That  he  might  serve  the  Father,  he  has 
sacrificed  all  that  the  world  has  held 
for  him  of  peace  or  joy  or  consolation. 
The  griefs  and  sufferings  that  may  fall 
to  man  have  all  been  his — all,  save  one. 
Nor  has  he  scaped  the  world's  tempta- 
tions that  beset  the  souls  of  men,  ex- 
cepting only  this.  Tea,  he  has  drunk 
the  bitter  waters  from  each  fount  of 
human  sorrow,  save  only  one — the 

109 


The  Passover 

deepest  and  most  bitter  of  them  all. 
Could  I  but  know  that  it  is  given  me  to 
bear  this  pain  for  him — that  through 
my  love  he  will  be  spared  the  knowing 
of  its  agony, — my  heart's  inquietude 
would  fill  my  soul  with  peace." 

Martha  gently  relaxed  her  embrace 
and  turned  to  cast  a  look  within  the 
court. 

"I  thought  for  a  moment  I  heard 
approaching  steps,"  she  explained. 
"Perchance  it  was  but  the  wind  moving 
the  gate  upon  its  latch.  However, 
Lazarus  must  soon  be  here,"  she  added, 
turning  to  the  table,  to  busy  herself 
with  the  trimming  of  its  lamp,  "and 
we  must  be  prepared  to  greet  him  with 
countenances  untroubled,  lest  he  ques- 
tion our  hearts." 

Obediently,  Mary  adjusted  the  folds 
of  her  headscarf,  and,  draping  her 

110 


An  Interpretation 

mantle  about  her,  stepped  quietly  to 
the  pool  and  bathed  her  eyes  with  its 
cooling  water.  Then  raising  her  head 
she  stood  with  drooping  arms  and 
looked  out  across  the  sky,  where  now  a 
first  faint  star  glimmered  uncertainly 
in  the  pale  glory  of  the  ascendant 
moon. 

And  as  she  stood  thus,  unseeing,  un- 
hearing,  the  gate  opened  noiselessly, 
and  the  figure  of  a  man  appeared  within 
the  entrance. 

His  white-robed  form,  shadowed 
against  the  leaden  light  of  the  sky  and 
bearing  in  its  poise  the  impress  of  a 
holy  presence,  seemed  the  momentary 
embodiment  of  the  divine  silence  of  the 
evening. 

With  a  slow  and  almost  tremulous 

movement  he  raised  his  hand  to  the 

wall  and  stopped  as  if  to  rest.    It  was 

the    act    of    a    giant    will    struggling 

111 


The  Passover 

against  unutterable  weariness.  His 
countenance  was  dimmed  in  shadow; 
yet  in  the  night's  effacive  blending 
of  his  features  there  lay  a  haunting 
tracery  of  pain,  the  immutable  expres- 
sion of  a  stricken  heart. 

With  weary  effort  he  lifted  his  head 
and  gazed  within  the  court. 

Suddenly,  and  for  one  brief  instant, 
his  face  lighted  with  a  smile;  his  lips 
parted  as  though  to  speak,  and  holding 
out  his  arms  toward  the  figure  at  the 
pool,  he  stood  as  one  transformed  and 
glorified  with  joy.  Then,  with  a  deep 
indrawing  of  his  breath,  the  light 
passed  from  him.  His  arms  drooped 
slowly  to  Ms  sides,  and  once  more  his 
head  sank  upon  his  breast. 


112 


rv; 


IV 

"Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  val- 
ley of  the  shadow  of  death, 

I  will  fear  no  evil,  for  Thou  art  with 
me; 

Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff  they  comfort 
me." 

As  Martha's  voice  trailed  into  si- 
lence, Jesus  slowly  lifted  his  head. 
With  a  heavy  and  exhaustive  sigh  he 
aroused  himself  as  from  the  thrall  of 
an  overbearing  despondency.  Draw- 
ing himself  resolutely  erect,  he  walked 
forward  within  the  court  and  approach- 
ing the  pool  gave  greeting  to  Mary, 
who  had  turned  and  recognized  him  at 
the  sound  of  his  steps. 
"The  Lord  be  with  you,  Mary." 
He  spoke  the  accustomed  salutation 


The  Passover 

quietly  and  with  gentle  benignity. 
And  in  return  she  answered  simply, 
"The  Lord  bless  thee,  Master;  and 
welcome. ' ' 

As  they  spoke,  Judas  stole  forth  un- 
noticed from  the  concealing  shadows, 
witness  of  all  that  had  occurred  within 
the  court,  and  passed  out  noiselessly 
through  the  gate. 

He  stopped  outside  the  wall  and  stood 
as  one  stressed  with  indecision.  His 
hands  were  clenched,  and  the  fitful 
glimpsing  of  his  teeth  gave  meaning  to 
his  subdued  mutterings.  He  glanced 
down  the  darkened  road  and  again  at 
the  half-closed  gateway  behind  him. 
Once  he  stepped  back  abruptly  as  if  to 
re-enter  the  court,  but  checked  himself, 
hesitating  and  uncertain,  and  bent  his 
eyes  to  the  ground.  Finally,  with  a 
gesture  of  passionate  determination, 
he  struck  his  staff  heavily  upon  the 

116 


An  Interpretation 

earth  and  set  forth  with  hurried  stride 
down  the  winding  street. 

Eeaching  the  village  fountain,  about 
which  a  few  belated  women  and  chil- 
dren still  lingered  with  their  pitchers, 
he  turned  sharply  to  the  right  and  took 
his  course  along  the  road  that  led  up 
and  across  the  mount. 

The  moon  shining  yellow  in  the  dusk 
made  distinct  his  pathway  among  the 
outlying  houses  and  gardens;  and  in 
the  guidance  of  its  light,  as  he  passed 
beyond  the  village,  he  increased  his 
gait  to  a  rapid,  impatient  walk,  using 
his  staff  as  an  aid  in  hurrying  him  for- 
ward up  the  mountain's  rambling  and 
acclivitous  road. 

Glancing  ahead  as  he  neared  the 
summit,  he  discerned  the  approaching 
figure  of  a  man.  He  sought  to  turn 
aside  and  avoid  a  meeting,  but  before 
he  could  act  upon  his  purpose  the  man 
117 


The  Passover 

accosted  him:  "Peace  be  unto  you, 
Judas.  You  appear  to  be  in  baste ;  and 
wberefore,  at  this  hour  of  the  evening? 
Come,  return  with  me  to  the  village 
and  share  our  supper  with  us." 

The  two  men  met  as  he  spoke.  Ju- 
das, however,  did  not  stop.  He  merely 
slackened  his  pace  for  a  moment  and 
answered  curtly,  "Peace  to  you,  Laz- 
arus. I  am  late;  do  not  ask  me  to 
tarry.  My  sister  awaits  me  at  Beth- 
phage.  Farewell,  and  the  Lord  keep 
you." 

He  passed  on  and  resumed  his  spir- 
ited walk.  He  did  not  once  look  back, 
but  pushed  forward  to  the  summit, 
scowling  and  muttering. 

He  was  following  the  main-traveled 
road,  which  passed  around  Bethphage 
on  its  way  to  Jerusalem;  but  as  he 
crossed  the  ridge  of  the  mount  he 
turned  off  into  one  of  the  paths  that 

118 


An  Interpretation 

led  down  to  the  city  by  a  more  direct 
route. 

The  fires  of  the  pilgrims  who  were 
camped  upon  the  hills  beaconed  the 
landscape  on  either  side  of  him.  Flick- 
ering red  amid  the  black  shades  of  the 
orchards,  or  blazing  in  pale  lumination 
upon  the  open  fields,  they  stretched 
away  in  scattered  groups  until  they 
waned  as  restless  stars  upon  the  vague 
horizon.  As  now  and  again  there  fell 
upon  him  the  glow  of  some  near-by 
blaze,  he  lifted  his  hand  to  his  face  or 
hung  his  head;  and  passing  rapidly 
down  the  mountain  side,  oblivious  to 
the  wondrous  sight  of  the  moonlit  Tem- 
ple before  him,  he  crossed  the  bridge 
and  with  labored  breathing  mounted 
the  hill  beyond;  pressing  on  with  un- 
abated haste  until  he  passed  the  guard 
at  the  gate  and  entered  the  city. 

The  streets  were  animate  with  holi- 
119 


The  Passover 

day  festivity.  The  limpid  radiance  of 
the  moon,  together  with  the  flaring 
lamps  of  the  shops  and  spangled  ba- 
zaars, the  hundreds  of  torches  flaming 
upon  the  tower  battlements,  the  glow 
of  courtyard  fires,  and  the  sparkle  of 
the  myriad  candles  of  the  Temple,  illu- 
mined the  city  with  a  magic  of  bright- 
ness and  fantasticism  that  drew  the 
pilgrims  and  provincial  visitors  into 
the  streets  and  irresistibly  held  them 
there  in  joyous  and  wondering  crowds. 
This  scene  of  gaiety,  however,  held 
no  allurement  for  Judas.  The  lights, 
the  chatter  of  voices,  the  presence  of 
the  people,  seemed  rather  to  repel  and 
irritate  him.  With  a  fierce,  rough  im- 
patience he  pushed  his  way  through 
the  companies  of  men  and  women  mov- 
ing along  the  crowded  streets  or  gath- 
ered about  the  markets.  Wherever  it 
was  possible,  however,  he  avoided  the 
12O 


An  Interpretation 

thoroughfares.  He  chose  the  unfre- 
quented streets,  the  byways,  the  postern 
passages ;  apparently  indifferent  to  the 
danger  that  lurked  in  their  obscurity. 

Now  in  the  open  and  again  through 
low  archways  and  covered  alleys,  he 
hastened  on  through  the  hidden  ways 
of  the  tangled  city.  Twisting,  vagrant, 
obstructed,  without  direction,  without 
order,  choked  and  slimed  with  the  wash 
of  rains  and  everywhere  reeking  with 
the  uncleanliness  of  huddled  human- 
ity, they  led  him  in  toilsome  winding 
through  a  never-ending  congestion  of 
buildings,  courts,  walls,  stairs,  terraces, 
galleries  and  archways — serried  masses 
of  masonry  in  all  its  varied  forms, 
pressed  and  jumbled  together  in  the 
labyrinthian  disorder  of  a  thousand 
years  of  unguided  building. 

Yet  Judas  found  no  seeming  diffi- 
culty in  tracing  his  way.    He  moved 
121 


The  Passover 

steadily  forward  with  an  assurance  of 
direction  that  only  an  intimate  famil- 
iarity with  the  city  could  have  made 
possible.  Down  the  slope  of  the  Tem- 
ple mount,  across  the  Tyropeon  valley, 
through  the  unsavory  quarters  of 
Akra,  and  up  the  steep  ascent  of 
Mount  Zion  to  the  city  of  David,  with 
its  palaces  and  patrician  homes,  he 
pressed  on  with  feverish  step;  emerg- 
ing now  and  again  upon  some  thor- 
oughfare or  market-place,  only  to  turn 
aside  at  the  first  opportunity  and  dis- 
appear into  the  darkness  and  maze  of 
the  city's  unchartered  windings. 

Only  once  did  he  stop.  He  had  come 
upon  an  elevated  and  comparatively 
open  space  in  the  lower  city,  when  in 
sudden  prospect  there  appeared  before 
him  the  mount  of  Golgotha,  just  visible 
above  the  city's  western  wall.  Stand- 
ing upon  the  summit  of  the  rounded 

122 


An  Interpretation 

hill,  black  and  sharply  outlined  against 
the  night,  was  a  solitary  cross.  Loom- 
ing thus  before  him  in  unexpected  re- 
vealment,  he  halted  and  shrank  back 
with  a  warding  uplift  of  his  arm.  Its 
gruesomeness,  its  isolation,  its  alien 
intrusion  upon  the  festal  night  with  its 
brute  avouchment  of  horror  and  of 
death,  seemed  for  a  brief  interval  to 
fascinate  him  and  hold  him  trembling 
where  he  stood. 

With  a  noisy  stroke  of  his  staff  upon 
the  stone  pavement,  he  turned  his  back 
upon  the  scene,  and  partially  retracing 
his  steps  continued  his  journey  toward 
Zion  in  altered  course. 

Ascending  the  street  past  the  tower 
of  Phasaelus,  he  reached  the  upper 
level  of  the  city  of  David.  For  a  sin- 
gle moment,  as  he  stepped  upon  the 
terrace  of  the  open  square  fronting  the 
Boman  pretorium,  the  one-time  abode 
123 


The  Passover 

of  the  great  Herod,  he  looked  back 
upon  the  city  below  him,  then  across 
the  Xystus  and  beyond  Moriah,  beyond 
the  Temple,  beyond  the  shadow  of 
Olivet,  and  out  into  the  blackness  where 
lay  the  village  of  Bethany.  It  was 
only  for  an  instant,  and  he  moved  on 
as  resolutely  as  before. 

Immediately  to  his  left  rose  the 
walls  of  the  ancient  castle  of  the  As- 
moneans.  To-night  the  historic  edifice, 
customarily  silent  and  engloomed,  was 
alive  with  voices  and  the  tramp  of  sen- 
tries and  with  the  sparkle  of  lights 
which  flashed  from  its  embrasures  and 
deep-set  windows.  Antipas,  the  te- 
trarch  of  Galilee,  had  arrived  on  his 
annual  visit  from  Tiberius,  to  be  pres- 
ent in  Jerusalem  during  the  Passover. 
And  as  Judas  walked  on,  following  one 
of  the  tree-lined  avenues  that  crossed 
the  marbled  plaza  of  the  world-famed 
124 


An  Interpretation 

palace  of  Herod,  he  noted  that  it,  too, 
this  citadel  of  the  Roman  procurator, 
was  illuminated  and  astir  with  un- 
wonted activity;  and  he  knew  thereby 
that  the  hated  Pontius  Pilate  was  again 
present  in  the  city,  ready  and  eager  to 
crush  with  the  iron  heel  of  despotism 
any  sign  of  rebellion  or  disaffection 
against  the  sovereignty  of  Rome. 

With  an  instinctive  shrug  Judas  left 
the  terrace,  descending  by  a  short  flight 
of  steps,  and  turned  off  to  the  right 
into  a  comparatively  broad  and  well- 
paved  street,  where  presently  he  came 
to  a  stop  before  the  entrance  of  one  of 
the  larger  buildings.  A  lantern  over- 
hanging the  portal  cast  a  sallow  light 
upon  the  heavy,  brass-covered  gate; 
and  raising  his  staff  Judas  made  his 
presence  known  with  three  loud  and 
impetuous  knocks  upon  the  resounding 
metal. 

125 


The  Passover 

A  wicket  in  the  upper  portion  of  the 
gate  swung  open  and  the  face  of  the 
keeper  appeared  within  the  closely 
barred  aperture. 

"Who  stands  without?"  he  de- 
manded. 

"Judas  Iscariot,  the  son  of  Simon." 

"What  brings  you  here?" 

"I  would  speak  with  Caiaphas,  the 
high  priest." 

"Begone  then  till  the  morrow  at  the 
fourth  hour.  'Tis  only  then  he  holds 
audience  with  strangers." 

"No;  I  will  see  him  now — at  once! 
I  am  not-  a  fool  that  I  am  come  at  this 
hour  of  the  night!  Open  and  let  me 
enter,  that  I  may  prove  to  the  captain 
of  the  guard  my  claim  to  speak  with 
Caiaphas  without  delay." 

"It  will  serve  you  no  purpose  to 
enter.  My  lord  the  high  priest  may 
not  be  disturbed  on  any  matter.  He 

126 


An  Interpretation 

holds  here  to-night  a  special  meeting 
of  the  high  councilors  of  the  San- 
hedrin;  a  sitting  of  the  house  of  jus- 
tice." 

''Aye,  and  it  is  therefore  I  am  here! 
I  have  that  to  impart  to  Caiaphas 
which  concerns  deeply  both  himself 
and  the  chief  priests  and  elders  of  the 
Sanhedrin. ' ' 

"By  the  gods  of  Borne,  these  are  big 
mouthings  for  a  countryman!  Who 
do  you  think  you  are,  that  you  should 
be  a  bearer  of  wisdom  to  the  San- 
hedrin and  the  lord  high  priest  of 
Israel?" 

"A  disciple  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth." 

The  keeper's  face  changed  instantly 
to  an  expression  of  startled  interest. 
"That  Jesus  who  calls  himself  the 
Messiah? — that  son  of  Belial  who  yes- 
terday made  mock  of  the  high  priest  in 
the  Temple?" 

127 


The  Passover 

"Yes." 

A  bolt  shot  back  and  the  gate  slowly 
opened  with  a  snarl  of  overburdened 
hinges.  Eetaining  his  hold  upon  the 
massive  handle,  the  warder  moved  back 
with  the  gate  as  it  swung  inward  and 
with  a  twist  of  his  left  thumb  motioned 
Judas  in. 

"Enter  and  welcome,  Judas  of 
Kerioth,"  and  with  a  grim  smile,  as 
Judas  entered,  he  closed  and  made  fast 
the  gate  behind  him.  "Mayhap,"  he 
commented  with  blunt  insinuation, 
"my  lord  the  high  priest  will  be  more 
ready  to  give  you  welcome  than  you 
had  hoped  for. ' '  He  made  small  effort 
to  conceal  the  surprise  and  satisfaction 
with  which  he  regarded  the  man  he  had 
admitted.  "You  bear  for  Caiaphas 
and  the  council  a  message  from  this 
Jesus  of  Nazareth?  So  be  it.  Remain 

128 


An  Interpretation 

here;  I  will  summon  the  captain  of  the 
guard. ' ' 

He  stepped  slowly  backward  as  he 
spoke,  his  hand  upon  the  hilt  of  his 
short  sword,  and  disappeared  through 
a  low  doorway  into  a  faintly  lighted 
corridor. 

Judas  held  his  peace.  He  had  paid 
scant  heed  to  his  interlocutor  and 
vouchsafed  him  no  response.  Such 
agitation  as  he  manifested  seemed  alto- 
gether apart  from  his  immediate  sit- 
uation. He  had  stood  by  in  silent 
unconcern  as  the  portal  was  closed 
upon  him,  and  with  a  restless  move- 
ment of  his  downcast  eyes  had  parried 
unconsciously  the  keeper's  scrutinizing 
stare.  The  outer  court  or  vestibule  in 
which  he  found  himself  was  furnished 
with  two  or  three  heavy,  leather-cov- 
ered benches  set  against  the  walls. 
129 


The  Passover 

The  warder  had  motioned  to  one  of 
them  as  he  left,  but  Judas  disregarded 
the  suggestion  and  remained  standing. 

With  his  face  turned  so  as  to  avoid 
the  direct  light  of  the  lamp  which  hung 
suspended  by  a  brass  chain  from  the 
center  of  the  vaulted  roof,  he  traced  his 
frowning  gaze  in  slow,  aimless  roving 
up  and  down  the  walls,  the  while  tap- 
ping restlessly  with  his  foot  upon  the 
floor.  Several  times  he  shifted  his 
staff;  holding  it  now  between  both  his 
hands,  and  again  grasping  it  single- 
handed  in  upright  position;  while  ever 
and  anon  he  bit  savagely  upon  his  un- 
der lip  or  cleared  his  throat  with  a 
quick,  nervous  cough. 

An  impulsive  diversion  of  his 
thoughts  seemed  suddenly  to  arouse 
him.  He  appeared  for  the  first  time  to 
realize  his  situation.  He  looked  about 
him  hurriedly,  half-fearfully,  in  the 

130 


An  Interpretation 

grim  silence  of  the  place;  noting  with 
strained  eyes  the  double-locked  portal, 
and  the  barred  exit  at  the  opposite  side 
of  the  court.  There  was  no  other  ex- 
terior opening,  save  a  small,  grated 
window  above  the  entrance.  He  lis- 
tened intently.  No  sign  of  life  came  to 
him  through  the  unfamiliar  walls  and 
shadows.  Crouching,  and  with  furtive 
step,  he  moved  forward  toward  the 
doorway  through  which  the  keeper  had 
taken  his  departure. 

He  had  proceeded  but  a  few  feet 
when  the  sound  of  advancing  steps 
echoed  through  the  corridor.  It  was 
the  breaking  of  the  spell.  The  loneli- 
ness, the  dread,  the  terror,  that  to  a 
coward's  heart  lies  ever  threatening  in 
the  gloom  of  perfect  silence,  became 
instantly  dissipated  by  this  measured 
rending  of  the  stillness — this  evidence 
of  material  things.  The  fear  that  had 


The  Passover 

come  into  his  eyes  paled  quickly  into 
cold  indifference;  and  stepping  back 
into  the  shadow  he  relapsed  at  once 
into  his  sullen,  defiant  mood. 

The  keeper  reappeared,  preceded  by 
the  captain  of  the  guard,  who  at  once 
approached  and  addressed  himself  to 
Judas : 

"You  bear  a  message  to  the  high 
priest  from  Jesus  of  Nazareth?" 

"No.  But  I  would  speak  with  Caia- 
phas  concerning  him." 

"You  are  a  disciple  of  this  Jesus?" 

"I  am." 

"You  would  plead  for  the  high 
priest's  forgiveness  of  your  master  for 
his  insult  to  the  ruler  of  the  Temple  f ' ' 

"No!  J  am  not  come  on  an  errand 
of  supplication." 

"What  matter  then  have  you  to  lay 
before  the  high  priest  regarding  this 
Jesus?" 

132 


An  Interpretation 

"Are  you  in  the  high  priest's  stead, 
that  I  shall  make  communication  to 
you?" 

The  officer,  his  face  as  stern  and 
motionless  as  though  sharing  the  im- 
mobility of  the  brazen  helmet  that  en- 
compassed it,  turned  abruptly  on  his 
heel.  "Follow  me!"  he  commanded, 
and  strode  across  the  floor  to  the  door- 
way opposite  the  portal. 

The  keeper  opened  the  door,  and 
Judas,  following  the  captain,  passed 
out. 

Crossing  a  narrow  portico,  he  de- 
scended three  or  four  steps  and  entered 
a  spacious  inner  court.  Though  shut 
in  on  its  four  sides  by  the  group  of 
buildings  constituting  the.  palatial 
home  of  Caiaphas,  it  was  open  to  the 
sky,  and  with  its  lawns  and  gardens 
and  ornamental  trees  presented  in 
miniature  a  scene  of  sylvan  beauty  and 

133 


The  Passover 

seclusion.  A  paved  walk,  circling  the 
center  fountain  with  its  clusters  of  tall- 
plumed  papyrus,  and  bordered  on  either 
side  with  flowering  shrubs  and  sweet- 
scented  bays,  divided  the  court  in  the 
middle  and  led  from  the  vestibule  to 
the  private  apartments  of  the  palace. 

Exposed  to  the  night,  the  courtyard 
itself  was  flooded  with  moonlight,  and 
in  the  shadows  of  its  surrounding  gal- 
leries and  porches  the  tinted  glow  of 
candelabra  shone  here  and  there 
through  open  windows  and  archways, 
conveying  to  the  skulking  eyes  of 
Judas  vague  pictures  of  luxury  and 
wealth.  To  his  left,  in  a  shaded  angle 
of  the  court,  he  saw  by  the  flare  of 
kitchen  fires  the  figures  of  guards  and 
servants  passing  back  and  forth;  and 
above  the  plash  of  the  fountain  and  the 
distant  notes  of  a  harp,  he  caught  an 
occasional  word  of  command  and  the 

134 


An  Interpretation 

far-off  cadence  of  a  child's  merry 
laughter. 

Beaching  the  farther  end  of  the  court 
he  followed  his  guide  into  a  brilliantly 
lighted  entrance  hall,  and  passing  an 
armed  sentinel,  mounted  a  flight  of  mar- 
ble stairs  and  came  upon  a  broad,  open 
gallery  overlooking  the  courtyard. 

"You  will  remain  here,"  commanded 
the  captain,  indicating  with  an  impera- 
tive finger  the  confines  of  the  gallery, 
and  without  further  explanation  passed 
at  once  through  the  heavily  curtained 
archway  that  marked  the  entrance  to 
the  upper  floor  of  the  house. 

For  several  minutes  Judas  paced 
back  and  forth  across  the  tile-patterned 
floor  of  this  upper  porch,  casting  an 
occasional  glance  through  its  colonnade 
of  Etruscan  pillars  into  the  underlying 
courtyard,  or  at  the  heavy  bronze  lan- 
tern that  hung  within  the  archway  and 

135 


The  Passover 

whose  rose-shaded  flame  revealed  in 
flickering  presentment  the  rich  Damas- 
cene fabric  of  the  portal  draperies. 

Then  gradually  he  became  aware  of 
the  near-by  presence  of  voices.  At  first, 
intermittent  and  murmurous,  as  though 
borne  on  a  passing  current  of  air,  he 
did  not  distinguish  them  from  the 
varied  sounds  about  him.  But  now 
their  tones  became  more  frequent,  more 
noticeable,  and  gradually  more  distinct 
in  their  individualities.  Here  and 
there  he  imagined  he  caught  a  word,  an 
exclamation.  Finally,  he  stopped  and 
listened.  Out  of  the  mumbled  reso- 
nance of  a  deep-toned  voice  the  name 
of  "Jesus,"  uttered  with  an  unmistak- 
able inflection  of  contempt,  came  dis- 
tinctly to  his  ear.  He  started,  looked 
searchingly  about  him,  and  moved 
stealthily  over  to  the  entrance.  Here 
he  again  stopped,  and  listened;  then 

136 


An  Interpretation 

cautiously  parted  the  curtains  and 
peered  within. 

His  reconnoiter  showed  him  a  softly 
lighted  apartment,  evidently  designed 
to  serve  as  an  atrium  or  waiting  room. 
It  was  not  large,  a  single  lamp  suffic- 
ing to  light  it.  Directly  before  him  at 
the  farther  end,  across  the  tessellated 
floor  with  its  coverings  of  brilliant 
rugs,  was  a  low  doorway  hung  with  tas- 
selled  arras  of  glittering  brocade. 
These  were  tightly  drawn;  but  with  his 
hearing  now  alert  and  attuned  and 
within  closer  range,  they  offered  but  lit- 
tle obstruction  to  the  words  that  were 
being  spoken  within  the  room  which 
lay  concealed  immediately  beyond  him. 

He  readily  guessed  that  he  was  look- 
ing upon  the  entrance  to  the  council 
chamber,  and  that  the  voices  were 
those  of  members  of  the  Sanhedrin 
who  were  met  with  Caiaphas  in  a  sit- 

137 


The  Passover 

ting  of  the  house  of  justice.  In  this 
he  was  at  once  confirmed,  when,  after 
a  slight  pause,  the  speaker  he  had  just 
heard  resumed  his  talk ;  and  the  words 
that  now  came  to  him  in  muffled  yet 
coherent  audibility  told  him  that  he 
had  not  been  mistaken  regarding  the 
object  of  this  special  and  hurriedly 
called  meeting  of  the  Sanhedrin's  high 
council : 

"Therefore,  my  fellow  councilors, 
why  do  we  hesitate  ?  It  needs  no  words 
of  mine  to  convince  you  that  this 
dreamer  of  dreams,  this  preacher  of 
blasphemies,  is  deserving  of  death. 
He  has  spoken  his  own  condemnation. 
Already  we  have  tolerated  too  long  his 
presence  among  us.  Even  now  we 
waste  time  in  discussion.  Each  of  us 
in  his  mind  is  determined  concerning 
this  man.  Then  wherefore  do  we  with- 
hold our  judgment?  It  is  idle  to  pre- 

138 


An  Interpretation 

tend  to  the  people  that  he  is  beneath 
our  notice,  or  that  in  our  official  char- 
acter we  are  ignorant  of  his  works  and 
of  his  teachings;  and,  helieve  me,  my 
fellow  councilors,  it  is  worse  than  idle 
— it  is  cowardly,  it  is  wrong — to  pre- 
tend to  ourselves  that  we  are  doing  our 
duty  by  sitting  thus  in  council  against 
him,  as  we  have  done  time  and  again 
during  the  past  year,  yet  permitting  on 
each  occasion  some  ready  pretext  to 
thwart  the  consummation  of  our  au- 
thority. 

'  *  Shall  we  confess  to  the  people  that 
we  fear  him?  or  shall  we  say  to  them 
that  there  is  no  longer  meaning  in  the 
words  that  Moses  spoke  to  our  fathers 
regarding  the  punishment  of  blasphem- 
ers and  false  prophets?  No,  we 
shall  do  neither !  The  time  is  come  for 
us  to  assert  our  authority;  to  defend 
the  conscience  and  the  law  and  the  dig- 

139 


The  Passover 

nity  of  Israel !  Let  a  guard  with  wit- 
nesses be  sent  at  once,  this  very  night, 
this  very  hour,  to  search  out  this  doer 
of  evil  and  lay  hold  upon  him,  and  take 
him  to  the  mount  of  Offence  and  there 
do  unto  him  as  demanded  by  the  law: 
Let  him  be  stoned ! 

"I  speak  bluntly,  my  brothers;  nev- 
ertheless I  but  quote  from  the  com- 
mand of  Moses : — '  So  shall  you  put  the 
evil  away  from  the  midst  of  you.'  It 
is  he,  speaking  in  the  name  of  the 
Almighty  Jehovah,  who  declares  for  us 
our  duty;  and  as  the  sworn  defenders 
of  Israel's  faith  it  is  for  us  to  obey,  and 
to  obey  at  once!  I  have  spoken." 

"Does  not  our  worthy  priest  and  fel- 
low councilor  speak  in  haste?"  re- 
sponded a  voice,  betokening  in  its  soft- 
ness and  calm  deliberation  a  man  of 
patriarchal  years.  "If  this  Galilean 
preacher  be  guilty  of  the  sins  charged 
140 


An  Interpretation 

against  him,  let  him  be  punished.  No 
man  is  more  zealous  for  the  Law  than 
I.  But  let  us  not  forget  that  the  law 
which  ordains  the  putting  to  death  of  a 
false  prophet,  and  of  which  our  worthy 
priest,  Joel  Ben  Simon,  has  just  now 
so  eloquently  reminded  us,  also  ordains 
that  no  man  shall  be  condemned  with- 
out a  hearing  in  his  own  defence." 

Instantly  the  voice  of  another  re- 
torted derisively:  "Is  our  venerable 
elder  also  of  Galilee,  that  he  would 
spare  this  prophet!  Despite  the  blas- 
phemies and  the  false  teachings  which 
we  all  have  heard  this  man  proclaim 
openly  to  his  own  condemnation,  do 
you,  our  brother  Nicodemus,  think  by 
bringing  him  before  us,  that  we  may 
perchance  believe  in  him?  Had  not 
his  own  words  already  proved  his  false- 
ness and  imposition,  it  were  enough  for 
us  to  know  that  he  comes  of  the  ac- 
141 


The  Passover 

cursed  north.  Search  the  Scriptures, 
my  learned  brother,  and  tell  us  where- 
in is  recorded  the  name  of  a  Galilean 
inspired  of  God.  We  know  that  in 
times  past  great  miracles  and  strange 
have  been  wrought  in  the  land  of  Is- 
rael. Perchance,  for  the  sake  of  those 
who  would  have  it  so,  such  days  may 
come  again  and  there  shall  arise  a 
prophet  in  Galilee." 

"My  brother,  Ishmael  Ben  Phabi, 
has  seen  fit  to  misunderstand  me,"  re- 
sponded Nicodemus  quietly;  " there- 
fore, it  were  idle  to  answer  him.  But 
lest  he  should  think  truly  that  God  has 
despised  the  ancient  land  of  Zebulun 
and  that  no  prophet  has  yet  arisen 
there,  let  me  but  remind  him  of  Jonah 
and  Hosea  and  Nahum.  In  the  natural 
zeal  of  youth  to  ridicule  the  wisdom  of 
old  age,  he  has  perchance  forgotten 
142 


An  Interpretation 

that  each  of  these  God-chosen  seers 
came  out  of  Galilee." 

Ere  he  had  finished  speaking,  several 
voices  broke  in  upon  him.  The  threat- 
ened disorder,  however,  was  quickly 
overborne  by  a  loud  and  incisive  voice, 
which  Judas  at  once  recognized  as  that 
of  Caiaphas : 

"Peace!  An  end  to  this  irrelevant 
contention!"  he  commanded  sharply. 
"We  are  not  met  to-night  to  spend 
words  in  polemic  wrangling ;  therefore, 
peace,  my  kinsmen  and  worthy  rabbis. 
Think  you  by  such  means  to  give  solu- 
tion to  the  problem  that  presses  upon 
us? 

"Our  brother  priest,  Joel  Ben  Simon, 
has  said  truly,  that  we  waste  time  in 
speech;  that  the  hour  is  come  to  act, 
to  put  forth  our  hands,  on  behalf  of 
the  safety  and  welfare  of  Israel.  Yet 

H3 


The  Passover 

at  the  same  time  has  our  respected 
elder,  Nicodemus,  spoken  no  less  truly 
in  counseling  a  due  regard  for  the 
forms  of  the  Law.  As  I  said  to  you 
at  the  opening  of  the  council,  it  be- 
hooves us  to  move  quickly  and  deci- 
sively ;  yet  must  our  judgment  none  the 
less  be  molded  with  extreme  care  and 
circumspection,  keeping  ever  before 
our  minds  the  consequences  that  may 
follow  upon  an  ill-considered  deter- 
mination of  this  grave  and  momentous 
matter. 

11  Already  I  have  said  to  you,  my 
brothers — priests,  elders  and  scribes  of 
Israel, — that  it  avails  nought  for  our 
purpose  to  determine  in  advance  what 
this  man  may  be:  whether  a  false 
prophet  or  a  blasphemer,  a  pretender  to 
the  Messianic  throne  or  a  mere  political 
incendiary.  Out  of  his  own  mouth  and 
of  any  score  of  witnesses  we  shall  con- 
144 


An  Interpretation 

vict  him  as  we  please  when  we  shall 
have  him  before  us.  In  itself  it  mat- 
ters little  what  heresies  he  teaches, 
what  claims  he  puts  forward,  what 
miracles  he  works.  In  due  time  would 
they  prove  their  own  emptiness,  and  by 
their  self-evident  falsity  cast  him  out 
from  among  the  people,  even  as  time 
and  again  have  others  of  his  kind  been 
repudiated  and  forgotten. 

"It  is  not,  therefore,  that  the  faith 
of  Israel  is  endangered  by  the  preach- 
ings and  the  spectacular  performances 
of  this  rude  provincial;  but,  as  I  have 
already  pointed  out  to  you,  the  danger 
lies  in  his  inciting  the  people  to  acts  of 
treason  or  rebellion  against  the  author- 
ity of  Borne. 

"The  events  of  the  past  three  days 
have  made  clear  to  you  that  this  dan- 
ger is  not  only  real,  but  imminent.  In 
two  days  is  the  Passover.  You  know 

145 


The  Passover 

that  when  on  the  first  day  of  the  week 
this  Jesus  of  Nazareth  came  into  the 
city  he  was  hailed  by  the  Galilean  rab- 
ble as  their  king  and  Messiah.  This 
outburst  passed  at  the  time  as  mere 
extravagance  and  rustic  enthusiasm. 
The  Eoman  officials  gave  no  heed  to  it. 
But  who  shall  say  to  what  length  these 
excitable  and  rebellious  provincials 
may  not  venture  on  our  feast  day,  the 
anniversary  of  Israel's  deliverance? 

"Well  may  we  tremble  for  the  safety 
of  the  nation  at  the  prospect  of  any 
uprising,  however  weak  or  futile  it  may 
be.  Its  very  attempt  would  be  the 
signal  for  our  certain  destruction. 
Our  Roman  masters  only  await  a  pre- 
text to  annul  what  remains  of  our  inde- 
pendence, or  by  fire  and  sword  to 
scatter  the  remnants  of  God's  people 
to  the  four  winds  of  the  earth. 

"You  know  full  well  the  temper  of 

146 


An  Interpretation 

the  man  Pontius  Pilate.  You  have  not 
forgotten  the  unreasoning  haste  with 
which  he  slew  certain  Galileans,  even 
while  at  their  sacrifices,  because  of  a 
mere  rumor  of  disaffection.  Nor  can 
you  blot  from  your  memories  the 
treacherous  and  wanton  manner  in 
which  he  sought  to  massacre  the  people 
of  Jerusalem  because  they  dared  to 
raise  their  voices  in  protest  against  the 
robbery  of  the  Temple  for  the  building 
of  Solomon 's  aqueduct.  If  such  be  his 
acts  at  the  bare  suggestion  of  revolt,  it 
needs  no  eloquence  of  mine  to  point  out 
to  you  the  calamity  that  shall  fall  upon 
us  if  this  Galilean  fanatic  be  permitted 
to  arouse  his  followers  to  some  act  of 
rebellion  or  lawless  demonstration. 
We  and  the  whole  people  shall  suffer 
for  it. 

"Therefore,  my  kinsmen  and  fellow 
guardians  of  Israel,  it  is  for  us  to  see 

H7 


The  Passover 

that  such  calamity  shall  not  fall  upon 
the  nation  because  of  the  presence  in 
our  midst  of  this  arrant  and  irrespon- 
sible agitator.  Better  is  it  that  one 
man  should  die  than  that  the  whole 
nation  perish.  In  his  death  alone  lies 
the  present  salvation  of  Israel. 

1  'Think  not  that  I  speak  in  the 
thought  of  the  outrage  and  the  gross 
indignity  with  which  he  dared  profane 
our  presence  and  authority  in  the  Tem- 
ple court,  on  the  morning  of  yesterday. 
I  am  moved  now  wholly  by  solicitude 
and  deep  concern  for  the  safety  of  our 
people;  and  there  may  be  no  rest  for 
our  fears  and  our  conscience  until  we 
know  that  this  man  is  safe  within  our 
hands.  If  his  apprehension  by  our 
officers  has  heretofore  been  aborted  lest 
it  inspire  a  tumult  among  his  followers, 
it  is  become  now,  with  the  passing  of 

148 


An  Interpretation 

each  hour,  an  ever  more  serious  diffi- 
culty. He  is  surrounded  always  by  a 
multitude  while  in  the  city,  and  at  night 
he  passes  beyond  our  jurisdiction  or  is 
in  hiding  with  his  friends.  And  the 
Passover  is  scarce  two  days  before  us. 

"Therefore,  what  wisdom  shall  guide 
us?  How  shall  we  lay  hold  upon  this 
man  before  the  Passover?  That,  my 
brother  priests  and  worthy  elders,  is 
the  problem  before  you.  All  else  is  de- 
termined: he  shall  die.  But,  answer 
me,  my  kinsmen — how  shall  we  take 
him?  how  shall  he  be  delivered  up  to 
judgment?" 

A  hush  followed  upon  the  words  of 
the  high  priest.  No  one  made  answer. 
Instead,  there  arose  a  murmur  as  of 
subdued  and  hurried  dialogue.  With 
straining  ears  Judas  sought  to  catch 
the  inarticulate  words  and  was  about 
149 


The  Passover 

to  venture  nearer,  when  the  voice  of 
Caiaphas  again  became  audible  and 
held  him  at  his  place : 

"So  be  it;  let  him  be  brought  before 
us." 

In  another  moment  Judas  had  re- 
drawn the  curtains,  and  was  pacing 
slowly  back  and  forth  upon  the  outer 
gallery,  when  the  captain  of  the  guard 
reappeared  and  summoned  him  to  come 
before  the  council. 

*•••»•• 

"You  would  speak  with  us  concern- 
ing your  master,  Jesus  Ben  Joseph  of 
Nazareth?" 

The  question  was  spoken  by  the  high 
priest;  his  keen,  glittering  eyes  meet- 
ing those  of  Judas  in  searching  se- 
verity. 

"Yes,"  answered  Judas,  shifting  his 
gaze  uneasily  about  the  long  table  at 
which  were  seated  twenty  or  more 
150 


An  Interpretation 

members  of  the  council;  "yes,  I  would 
speak  concerning  my — concerning  this 
Jesus  of  Nazareth." 

"  So  be  it ;  proceed ! ' ' 

A  score  of  unfriendly  faces,  some  of 
them  cold  and  contemptuous  and  others 
frowning  with  austerity,  looked  upon 
him  in  dead  silence.  He  glanced  fur- 
tively from  one  to  the  other  of  his  mag- 
isterial auditors,  recognizing  none  of 
them  by  person,  yet  readily  distin- 
guishing the  priests  from  the  elders 
and  the  scribes  by  their  mitred  head- 
dress and  the  general  richness  of  their 
robes.  At  the  head  of  the  table,  on  a 
couch  slightly  more  elevated  than  the 
others,  sat  the  high  priest;  his  bold, 
harsh  features  showing  pale  in  the 
mingled  lights  of  the  candelabrum  and 
the  large  brazen  lamp  with  which  the 
room  was  illuminated.  Upon  him 
Judas  again  rested  his  eyes. 


The  Passover 

Twice  he  started  as  if  to  speak,  but 
each  time  checked  his  tongue.  His 
manner  was  not  that  of  one  held  by  fear 
or  embarrassment.  It  was  rather  as 
though  he  were  confused  with  hurried 
reasoning  and  sought  to  guard  himself 
in  his  method  of  expression.  However, 
it  was  but  the  hesitancy  of  a  moment. 
With  a  flush  of  final  decision  he  moved 
a  step  nearer  and  addressed  himself 
bluntly  to  Caiaphas : 

"What  will  you  pay  me,"  he  de- 
manded, "if  I  deliver  into  your  hands 
this  Jesus  of  Nazareth?" 

For  an  instant  a  tempering  gleam  of 
surprise  shone  in  the  cold,  hard-set 
countenance  of  the  high  priest.  "For 
what  cause  do  you  offer  to  betray  your 
master?"  he  asked  sharply. 

* '  That  I  may  serve  Israel, ' '  returned 
Judas. 

There  was  a  general  stir  about  the 
152 


An  Interpretation 

table,  as  the  councilors  exchanged 
glances  and  bent  forward  to  scrutinize 
more  closely  the  man  before  them. 

"That  is  well  spoken,  if  it  be  spoken 
from  the  heart,"  commented  Caiaphas. 
"But  how  happens  it  that  one  of  this 
man's  disciples  is  animated  to  speak  in 
such  manner  as  this  I ' ' 

"Because  my  eyes  have  been  opened. 
I  have  awaked  to  his  false  character. 
He  is  untrue  to  Israel ;  he  would  deliver 
up  the  nation  to  destruction.  Of  this 
I  am  assured,  and  I  know  whereof  I 
speak.  He  may  continue  to  deceive  the 
Galileans;  but  I,  the  Lord  be  praised, 
am  a  son  of  Judah ! ' ' 

"And  now  that  you  have  grown  of  a 
sudden  wise  in  your  own  conceit, ' '  com- 
mented one  of  the  elders  whose  voice 
Judas  recognized  as  that  of  Nicodemus, 
"you  would  put  your  cunning  to  the 
service  of  Israel — for  a  consideration. ' ' 

153 


The  Passover 

Judas  acknowledged  with  an  involun- 
tary movement  of  his  throat  the  taunt 
and  suspicion  conveyed  in  these  calmly 
uttered  words  of  the  elder.  Facing 
Nicodemus,  he  answered  with  a  ready 
show  of  resentment,  "If  David,  for 
recompense,  delivered  the  Israelites  of 
an  evil,  am  I  nobler  than  he  that  I 
should  serve  Israel  in  like  manner  with- 
out recompense?" 

"  Peace!"  commanded  Caiaphas. 
"Your  loyalty  to  the  nation  shall  not 
pass  unrewarded.  You  agree  to  betray 
this  man  into  our  hands  ? ' ' 

"I  do." 

"Before  the  morning  of  the  Pass- 
over!" 

"Before  the  morning  of  the  Pass- 
over." 

"You  will  point  out  to  us  how  and 
where  he  may  be  taken  without  knowl- 
edge of  the  people  ? ' ' 

154 


An  Interpretation 

"I  will." 

"So  be  it.  And  in  return  we  cove- 
nant to  pay  you  thirty  shekels  of  the 
sanctuary.  Are  you  agreed?" 

"I  am  agreed." 

•  *••••• 

The  outer  gate  swung  shut  with  a 
clang,  and  Judas  stole  forth  into  the 
shadows  of  the  night. 


155 


V 


The  day  of  unleavened  bread  was 
at  hand.  The  morning  with  its  intense 
bustle  of  preparation  had  gone.  The 
shadows  were  already  pointing  east- 
ward, the  sixth  hour  had  passed,  and 
over  all  the  land  the  work  of  the  fields 
and  the  households  had  ceased.  All 
trace  of  leaven,  all  uncleanness,  all  de- 
filement had  been  purged  from  the  hab- 
itations of  the  people.  The  unleav- 
ened bread  had  been  baked,  the  bitter 
herbs  gathered  and  prepared  and  the 
paschal  lamb  selected  for  the  slaughter. 
Everything  was  in  readiness  for  the 
Passover.  Already  in  reverberating 
blasts  the  ram-horn  trumpets  had  an- 
nounced from  the  Temple  the  begin- 

159 


The  Passover 

ning  of  the  feast.  It  had  been  the  sig- 
nal for  the  men  of  Israel  to  draw  nigh 
and  prepare  for  the  sacrifice. 

Pressing  through  the  gates  of  the 
Temple,  each  with  a  lamb  or  a  kid  upon 
his  shoulder,  a  joyous  multitude  of  men 
filled  to  overflowing  the  vast  enclosures 
of  the  sacred  building.  It  was  a  won- 
drous, awe-inspiring  congregation;  a 
memorial  assemblage  of  the  heads  of 
the  families  of  Israel ;  a  votive  gather- 
ing of  full  two  hundred  thousand  of  the 
chosen  men  of  God,  bearing  each  his 
paschal  offering  of  a  spotless  male. 

Suddenly,  from  the  court  of  the 
Priests,  three  trumpet  blasts  pierce 
the  murmurous  air,  and  upon  the  si- 
lence thus  invoked  there  rises  now  a 
surging,  outrolling  chorus  of  five 
thousand  voices — the  choir  of  the  Le- 
yites  chanting  the  great  Hallel : 
160 


An  Interpretation 

"Praise  ye  Jehovah! 

Praise,  0  ye  servants  of  Jehovah, 

Praise  the  name  of  Jehovah!" 

It  is  the  signal  for  the  slaughter  of 
the  Passover  lambs.  The  ninth  hour 
has  arrived,  and  between  this  and  the 
setting  of  the  sun,  a  period  of  scarce 
three  hours,  must  the  whole  multitude 
of  animals  be  blest,  slain  and  carried 
away  for  the  eating  of  the  paschal 
supper. 

The  vast  concourse  moves  slowly 
forward  in  three  well-ordered  lines, 
reaching  from  the  outer  gates  across 
the  entire  length  of  the  court  of  the 
Gentiles,  up  the  broad,  marble  stairs  to 
the  Beautiful  Gate,  through  this  world- 
famed  portal  with  its  jeweled  portico 
and  sculpturings  of  gold  and  Parian 
marble,  into  the  court  of  the  Women, 
across  this  anterior  closure  and  up  a 


The  Passover 

further  stairway  of  fifteen  steps  to  the 
superlatively  magnificent  gate  of  Ni- 
canor,  with  its  titanic  doors  of  Corin- 
thian brass,  more  beautiful  and  more 
costly  than  finest  gold  and  by  their  size 
and  far-reaching  height  dwarfing  the 
surgent  stream  of  men  to  a  swarm  of 
insects,  and  through  this  engulfing 
gateway  into  the  court  of  the  Israelites, 
where  the  throng  spreads  out  over  its 
enormous  space  and  halts  before  the 
walls  of  the  court  of  the  Priests. 

A  low  parapet  of  white  marble,  its 
broad  upper  surface  grooved  with 
trough-like  indentations,  separates  this 
priestly  court  from  the  encompassing 
court  of  the  people;  yet,  being  but 
waist  high,  permits  an  overlooking  view 
of  its  interior;  so  that  within  it  now 
may  be  plainly  seen  the  congregated 
host  of  priests  and  Levites.  Grouped 
in  double  rows  and  massed  about  the 
162 


An  Interpretation 

great  altar  in  the  center  of  the  court, 
the  entire  priesthood  of  Jerusalem, 
in  recognition  of  this  supreme  occa- 
sion of  the  year,  is  gathered  together 
within  sight  of  the  people  for  the  minis- 
tration of  the  national  sacrifice. 

Clothed  in  the  vestments  and  the  dig- 
nity of  their  consecrated  office,  they 
stand  with  covered  heads  and  bared 
feet  before  the  hosts  of  Israel ;  twenty 
thousand  white-robed  figures  solemnly 
performing  with  the  practised  skill  of 
rhythmic  ceremony  the  seemingly  im- 
possible task  before  them;  while  from 
their  midst  comes  ever  the  intoning  of 
the  deep-voiced  Levites,  never  halting 
save  at  the  prescribed  intervals  to  await 
the  hallelujah  responses  of  the  people. 
With  bowls  of  silver  and  of  gold  these 
ministering  servants  of  Jehovah  catch 
the  blood  of  the  offerings,  which,  a 
thousand  at  a  time,  are  now  laid  within 

163 


The  Passover 

the  troughs  of  the  dividing  walls,  and 
each  hastily  slain  by  its  bearer  with  the 
aid  of  a  priest ;  the  blood  being  drained 
into  the  bowls  and  together  with  the 
entrails  and  certain  portions  of  the 
flesh  passed  rapidly  back  from  hand  to 
hand,  to  be  poured  upon  the  altar  and 
the  waste  portions  cast  into  the  enor- 
mous furnace  that  blazes  beneath  it. 

As  the  time  passes  the  formality  of 
the  proceedings  becomes  noticeably 
less  observed.  The  need  for  haste 
grows  urgent  and  imperative.  There 
is  a  steadily  increasing  noise  and  con- 
fusion. The  babeled  voices  of  the  men, 
breaking  now  into  expressions  of  im- 
patience, mingle  with  the  incessant 
bleatings  of  affrighted  animals.  De- 
spite the  efforts  of  a  legion  of  guards 
and  officers  and  the  closing  of  the  gates, 
to  stem  the  rush  of  the  multitude,  the 
crowding  becomes  well-nigh  unendura- 

164 


An  Interpretation 

ble  and  beyond  management.  To  the 
already  stifling  atmosphere  are  added 
the  sickening  odor  of  blood  and  the 
smoke  of  the  altar  fire  with  its  fetor  of 
burned  flesh. 

Each  minute  a  thousand  knives  de- 
scend, a  thousand  lambs  are  slain,  a 
thousand  bowls  of  blood  are  dashed 
upon  the  altar,  and  a  ton  of  reeking 
fuel  added  to  the  awful  fire;  and 
without  a  moment's  halt,  their  robes 
and  their  hands  splotched  and  run- 
ning with  crimson,  the  priests  hold 
to  their  duties,  with  whipped  nerves 
and  with  faces  beaded  with  the  intense 
heat  that  now  pervades  the  court.  And 
as  though  stirred  by  the  emanations  of 
the  slaughter  and  the  presence  of  the 
swaying  and  murmuring  multitude,  the 
Levites  quicken  the  measure  of  their 
singing  and  raise  their  voices  higher 
and  still  higher,  imbuing  the  scene  with 

165 


The  Passover 

a  ferment  of  emotional  excitement  and 
religious  hysteria,  which  rises  among 
the  people  until  their  formal  responses 
to  the  choir  become  outbursts  of 
shouted  and  screaming  hallelujahs. 

Minute  by  minute  the  time  passes 
quickly  on.  The  hour  draws  near  for 
the  ending  of  the  sacrifice.  While 
tens  of  thousands  have  already  passed 
out  with  their  consecrated  meat,  there 
are  yet  other  tens  of  thousands  waiting 
their  turn  to  reach  the  court  of  the 
Priests  and  now  crying  aloud  in  their 
impatience  and  discomfort.  The  ef- 
forts of  the  priests  are  redoubled. 
The  crowds  are  becoming  clamorous. 
Now  twelve  hundred,  now  fifteen  hun- 
dred, and  finally,  in  a  perfect  orgy  of 
tumult  and  butchery,  two  thousand 
animals  are  blessed,  killed  and  disem- 
boweled within  each  minute  of  the 
hour 's  remaining  fraction. 

166 


An  Interpretation 

No  man  is  turned  away  without  his 
sacrifice.  Not  one  of  the  two  hundred 
thousand  yearlings  goes  forth  alive. 
And  the  ending  of  the  final  moment  wit- 
nesses the  last  of  the  worshipers  trus- 
sing each  the  carcass  of  his  lamb  with  a 
skewer  of  pomegranate  wood  and  mum- 
bling formal  thanks  to  God.  Then  fol- 
lows the  choral  benediction  of  the  Le- 
vites,  a  thousand  trumpets  cry  out  upon 
the  evening  air,  and  the  great  paschal 
sacrifice  is  ended. 

Among  those  to  leave  the  Temple 
during  the  closing  hour  was  one  whose 
face  was  noteworthy  above  others  be- 
cause of  its  expression  of  uneasiness 
and  evident  anxiety.  His  rustic  garb, 
his  weather-roughed  skin,  and  his 
heavy,  hard-worn  hands,  together  with 
a  peculiar  burr  that  manifested  itself 
in  the  few  words  that  he  was  occasion- 
ally obliged  to  return  to  a  passing  sal- 

167 


The  Passover 

utation,  at  once  declared  him  a  laborer 
from  one  of  the  provinces.  A  discrim- 
inating observer  among  Ms  own  coun- 
trymen would  readily  have  distin- 
guished him  as  a  Galilean  and  would 
perhaps  no  less  readily  have  detected 
that  his  calling  was  that  of  a  fisherman. 
But  among  the  thousands  that  now  sur- 
rounded him,  each  intent  upon  his  own 
errand,  he  passed  unnoticed  as  a  unit 
of  the  multitude. 

The  body  of  his  lamb,  wrapped  in  its 
skin,  he  held  beneath  his  cloak.  Not 
only  was  it  thus  protected  from  the 
dust,  but  his  manner  of  carrying  it  sug- 
gested a  desire  to  conceal  its  posses- 
sion from  the  eyes  of  the  public. 
With  a  throng  of  others  he  came  out 
upon  the  street  through  one  of  the 
western  gates  of  the  Temple,  and 
turned  his  steps  northward  toward  the 
Mil  of  Bezetha. 

168 


An  Interpretation 

He  had  not  proceeded  far  when  he 
was  joined  by  another,  a  younger  man, 
who  had  evidently  been  waiting  for 
him;  for  as  he,  the  younger  man, 
emerged  from  the  gateway  in  which  he 
had  been  standing  and  met  the  other, 
he  exclaimed  impulsively,  "The  Lord 
be  praised,  Peter !  I  had  begun  to  fear 
that  some  misfortune  had  fallen  upon 
you." 

"It  is  indeed  growing  late,"  re- 
turned the  other ; ' '  but  so  far,  John,  all 
is  well.  It  was  impossible  sooner  to 
complete  my  errand.  I  should  have 
reached  the  Temple  earlier,  that  I 
might  have  been  among  the  first.  How- 
ever, our  task  is  now  completed*  except 
to  carry  the  lamb  to  Johanan's  house. 
You  have  arranged  with  him  for  the 
benches  and  for  the  water  and  the  wine 
and  the  making  ready  of  the  oven  ? ' ' 

*  *  I  have, ' '  answered  John.  '  *  Every- 
169 


The  Passover 

thing  is  in  readiness.  The  bread  and 
the  endive  have  been  left  for  Judas  to 
purchase,  and  he  will  bring  them  with 
him." 

"Johanan's  neighbors — do  they  sus- 
pect who  his  guests  are  to  be?"  in- 
quired Peter,  after  a  momentary  si- 
lence, as  the  two  men  threaded  their 
way  down  one  of  the  more  secluded 
streets  of  Moriah. 

"No,"  responded  John;  "he  has 
spoken  to  no  one.  Furthermore,  every 
man  is  too  busy  with  his  own  prepara- 
tions, and  if  the  Master  shall  not  come 
over  until  the  night  is  grown  toward 
the  second  watch,  it  is  scarce  likely  he 
will  be  recognized  or  seen  by  any  of 
the  Temple  officers.  In  truth,  I  am 
assured,  Peter,  that  all  will  be  well; 
that  we  need  have  no  cause  for 
anxiety. ' ' 

"Let  us  pray  that  it  may  be  so," 
170 


An  Interpretation 

commented  Peter  solemnly.  "  Never- 
theless, for  my  part,  I  say  again  that  he 
is  putting  himself  and  all  of  us  in 
danger  by  coming  here  to-night. ' ' 

''Nay,  Peter,  you  forget  what  the 
Master  teaches  us:  that  in  our  hearts 
there  must  be  no  thought  of  fear ;  that 
fear  is  of  the  world  and  not  of  the  king- 
dom." 

Peter  was  about  to  reply,  when  some- 
one out  of  the  moving  and  chattering 
crowd  of  the  street  stopped  and  ac- 
costed them :  ' '  The  Lord  be  with  you, 
brothers  of  Israel." 

They  looked  up  quickly,  and  showed 
by  their  momentary  unresponsiveness 
that  he  who  had  spoken  was  a  stranger 
to  them.  At  the  same  time,  however, 
his  dress  and  bearing  told  them  plainly 
that  he  was  a  Pharisee,  and  moreover 
a  man  of  rank  and  accustomed  wealth. 
His  rich  apparel,  wide-bordered  and 
171 


The  Passover 

heavily  fringed,  together  with  his  phy- 
lacteries, bound  with  their  soft-leather 
thongs  upon  his  brow  and  left  fore- 
arm, seemed  but  the  natural  comple- 
ment of  his  proud  and  assured  bear- 
ing; while  in  his  gray-bearded  dignity 
with  its  arresting  yet  indescribable 
expression  of  superiority  lay  the 
glamour  of  that  exclusiveness  which 
characterized  the  patrician  members 
of  his  class.  Stepping  back  within  the 
angle  of  an  adjacent  wall,  he  beckoned 
the  two  men  to  draw  near. 

"Are  you  not  disciples  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth?"  he  inquired,  speaking  in 
lowered  voice  and  fixing  his  eyes  upon 
Peter. 

Peter's  face  darkened  with  a  scowl. 
"Before  you  stop  to  question  those  who 
are  upon  their  lawful  business,"  he  re- 
torted angrily,  "see  to  it,  sir,  that  you 
mistake  not  who  they  are  I ' ' 
172 


An  Interpretation 

"Your  anger  is  without  warrant," 
returned  the  Pharisee,  in  the  calm  rep- 
rimand of  a  superiorly  trained  temper. 
"I  know  you  to  be  disciples  of  this 
Jesus.  It  will  avail  you  nothing  to 
deny  it." 

"My  friend  meant  not  to  deny  it," 
interposed  the  other;  "but  we  are  in 
haste." 

"Is  your  master  in  the  city!"  asked 
the  Pharisee,  pointedly  ignoring  the  un- 
easiness of  the  two  men  and  compelling 
them  by  his  skilled  attitude  of  authority 
to  resist  the  impulse  that  urged  them  to 
avoid  him  and  hurry  on  their  way. 

"No,"  answered  John;  "he  is  not." 

"Does  he  plan  to  eat  the  Passover  in 
the  city  to-night?" 

"What  is  it  to  you,"  demanded 
Peter,  "where  he  is  or  what  his  plans 
may  be?  By  whose  authority  and  for 
what  purpose  do  you  meddle  with  us?" 

173 


The  Passover 

Without  looking  at  Peter,  the  Phari- 
see quietly  repeated  his  question  to 
John:  ''Does  your  master  plan  to  eat 
the  Passover  in  the  city?" 

"Yes,"  answered  the  young  man 
candidly,  "he  does.  But  at  what  time 
and  in  what  part  of  the  city,  I  shall  not 
tell  you. ' ' 

"Nor  do  I  care  to  know,"  responded 
the  stranger  calmly.  "Depart  in  peace, 
men  of  Galilee,  and  fear  not.  The  Lord 
be  with  you, ' '  and  with  a  formal  uplift 
of  his  jeweled  hand  he  dismissed  them. 

He  remained  standing,  looking  after 
them  until  they  disappeared  beyond  the 
archway  that  marked  the  turn  in  the 
street.  Then,  resuming  his  walk,  he 
turned  into  one  of  the  more  busy  thor- 
oughfares and,  unmindful  of  the  looks 
and  respectful  salutations  that  greeted 
him  amid  the  jostling  populace,  pro- 
ceeded with  unhurried  steps  down  to 

174 


An  Interpretation 

the  eastern  gate  of  the  city.  Per- 
mitting himself  here  to  be  swept 
into  and  become  a  passive  part  of  the 
boisterous  stream  of  pilgrims  that 
surged  through  the  portal  in  turbulent 
eagerness  to  carry  their  paschal  sacri- 
fices to  their  tents  outside  the  walls,  he 
passed  down  to  the  valley  of  the  Kidron 
and  continued  forward  up  the  Mount  of 
Olives. 

He  chose  one  of  the  bypaths  leading 
to  Bethany,  and  soon  had  passed  be- 
yond the  camps  of  the  pilgrims  and 
away  from  the  noise  and  the  crowding 
of  the  people.  Eaising  his  eyes  occa- 
sionally to  glance  ahead  of  him,  he 
moved  onward  erectly  with  the  meas- 
ured gait  of  a  dignity  that  disdained 
to  compromise  with  the  ruggedness 
and  steepness  of  the  pathway.  He 
looked  neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left, 
and  accepted  without  acknowledgment 

175 


The  Passover 

the  deference  accorded  him  by  the  oc- 
casional villagers  he  met  upon  the 
path,  each  of  whom  instinctively 
stepped  aside  and  with  a  bow  or  a  fur- 
tive sneer  allowed  him  the  right  of 
way. 

The  sun  had  set  and  the  moon  hung 
red  upon  the  hazed  horizon  of  the  wil- 
derness beyond  Bethany,  when  he 
reached  the  village  and  inquired  for 
the  home  of  Lazarus,  the  ruler  of  the 
synagogue. 

Entering  by  the  gate  that  led  into 
the  garden  beyond  the  house,  he  dis- 
cerned amid  the  deep  shadows  of  the 
foliage  the  figure  of  a  man  seated  in 
an  attitude  of  rapt  thought  upon  the 
broad  stone  bench  beside  the  olive  tree. 
As  he  approached,  the  man  looked  up 
and  without  show  of  surprise  quietly 
returned  the  other's  inquisitive  gaze. 

The  Pharisee  seemed  for  a  moment 
176 


An  Interpretation 

uncertain.  "I  would  speak  with  Jesus 
of  Nazareth,"  he  announced,  scrutiniz- 
ing by  the  dim  and  unsatisfying  light 
the  face  of  the  man  before  him. 

"I  am  Jesus  of  Nazareth."  In  its 
quiet  self-possession  the  voice  gave  echo 
to  the  evening  calmness. 

"It  is  well,"  returned  the  Pharisee 
promptly,  "and  may  peace  be  with 
you."  Then  moving  a  step  nearer  he 
added,  "Perchance  you  do  not  recog- 
nize me.  Know,  then,  that  I  am  Jo- 
seph of  Arimathea,  a  councilor  of  the 
Sanhedrin. ' ' 

Jesus  raised  his  eyes  with  an  expres- 
sion of  appreciative  interest.  "The 
blessings  of  the  Lord  be  upon  you, 
Eabbi  Joseph,"  he  answered  in  kindly 
welcome.  "If  it  is  I  with  whom  you 
would  speak,  share  with  me  the  seat 
upon  this  stone." 

The  councilor  slowly  seated  himself. 
177 


The  Passover 

He  did  not  speak  at  once,  but  permitted 
a  full  minute  to  pass  in  silence.  The 
unaffected  calmness  and  familiarity 
with  which  Jesus  had  received  him,  a 
reception  so  singularly  out  of  keeping 
with  that  to  which  he  was  accustomed 
from  his  official  inferiors,  apparently 
caused  him  to  deliberate  in  what  man- 
ner to  proceed. 

The  dusk  of  the  garden  obliterated 
almost  wholly  the  distinguishing  dif- 
ferences in  the  dress  and  physiognomy 
of  the  two  men.  The  rich  silks  and 
Egyptian  linen  of  the  Pharisee,  with 
their  embroideries  and  jeweled  decora- 
tions, blended  into  oneness  of  appear- 
ance with  the  plain  woolen  garments 
of  the  Nazarene.  And  if  the  one  held 
himself  with  the  studied  dignity  of 
rank,  the  poise  of  the  other  was  that  of 
the  unconscious  dignity  of  command- 
ing character.  Something  of  the  spir- 

178 


An  Interpretation 

it  of  this  equality  which  thus  the  level- 
ing touch  of  eventide  revealed  to  him 
seemed  to  give  direction  to  the  coun- 
cilor's procedure;  for  when  he  again 
addressed  the  Galilean  it  was  with  a 
marked  diminution  of  his  attitudinal 
loftiness. 

"You  are  perchance  surprised  that 
one  of  my  position  should  thus  seek 
you  out, ' '  he  began  in  a  tone  of  formal 
civility. 

"Not  if  you  have  come  to  learn  of 
me  regarding  the  Truth,"  returned 
Jesus.  "In  the  sight  of  the  Father  no 
man  is  of  rank  above  another.  More- 
over, it  has  not  remained  for  you  to  be 
the  first  among  the  judges  of  Israel  to 
come  thus  to  me  under  cover  of  the 
night.  Ask  of  your  fellow-councilor 
Nicodemus." 

"It  is  due  to  him,  and  moreover  it 
is  partly  at  his  behest,  that  I  am 

179 


The  Passover 

now  here,"  responded  the  Pharisee. 
"  Through  him  have  I  learned  of  the 
true  character  of  your  teachings,  and 
it  rejoices  me  that  they  are  in  spirit 
those  of  my  revered  master,  Hillel, 
at  whose  feet  I  sat  when  a  youth. 
I  am  a  man  now  ripe  in  the  wisdom  of 
years,  and  I  say  to  you  as  a  follower 
of  this  great  teacher,  that  the  nation 
has  need  of  you.  The  people  are  more 
ready  now  to  hearken  to  his  exalted 
teachings,  and  upon  you,  honored  of 
God  with  the  mantle  fallen  from  the 
shoulders  of  the  master,  rests  the  glo- 
rious work  of  hastening  forward  the 
preparation  of  Israel  for  the  kingdom 
of  God." 

Jesus  put  forward  his  hand  in  a  ges- 
ture of  interruption.  "Let  not  your 
thoughts  be  deceived,"  he  said  ear- 
nestly. * '  That  which  is  given  to  me  to 
speak  is  not  by  the  authority  of  men, 
180 


An  Interpretation 

but  is  of  the  Father  and  Him  only.  I 
teach  neither  as  a  disciple  of  Hillel  nor 
of  Moses,  nor  yet  of  any  of  the  scribes 
or  prophets  that  have  gone  before. 
Each  was  sufficient  unto  his  own  gen- 
eration. My  words  are  of  the  Spirit; 
that  alone  is  my  guide.  No  man  in 
whom  is  the  Spirit  has  need  of  earthly 
teacher  s." 

"It  is  but  meet  that  you  should  thus 
interpret  the  power  that  God  has  given 
you,"  returned  the  Pharisee  in  patron- 
izing acquiescence.  "Yet  none  the 
lass  I  am  convinced  that  you  are  or- 
dained to  carry  forward  the  good  work 
of  Eabbi  Hillel.  Like  him,  you  are  of 
the  people.  You  know  them  and  un- 
derstand them,  and  you  have  enlisted 
their  hearts.  And  I  repeat,  that  from 
what  I  have  myself  observed  and  from 
what  my  brother-elder,  Nicodemus,  has 
recounted  to  me,  I  am  assured  your 


The  Passover 

teachings  are  for  the  good  of  Israel. 
Israel  has  need  of  such  as  you.  There 
abounds  in  you  the  spirit  of  the  proph- 
ets. No  man  could  speak  as  you  speak 
or  do  the  things  that  you  do,  except 
he  be  inspired  of  God. 

"Verily,  I  say  to  you,  Jesus  of  Naz- 
areth, that  God  has  appointed  you  to 
preach  the  coming  of  the  kingdom.  In 
this  judgment  Nicodemus  and  I  stand 
alone  among  the  councilors  and  the 
Pharisees;  yet  it  is  because  we  alone 
have  read  the  signs  and  discerned  the 
truth  concerning  you.  Like  the  serv- 
ant of  Elijah  have  we  looked  from  the 
mountain  top  and  beheld  the  little  cloud 
arising  out  of  the  sea. 

"That  which  in  the  fulness  of  years 
I  now  know  for  a  verity,  did  I  first  hear 
from  the  lips  of  Hillel  himself:  that 
the  preparation  of  the  people  must 
come  from  within,  through  peace, 
182 


An  Interpretation 

through  non-resistance,  through  right 
thinking.  It  is  thus  you  teach  the  peo- 
ple, and  they  are  ready  to  listen  to  you 
and  follow  you.  Therefore,  as  a  young 
man,  received  and  acclaimed  at  the 
very  outset  of  your  career,  there  lies 
before  you  a  future  glorified  with  the 
promise  of  great  things. 

1  i  However,  the  time  is  no f.  yet  propi- 
tious for  such  as  I  to  openly  espouse 
your  cause.  'For  everything  there  is  a 
season:  a  time  to  keep  silence,  and  a 
time  to  speak. '  The  people  themselves, 
even  your  own  chosen  disciples,  do  not 
rightly  understand  your  purpose.  And 
it  is  to  be  deplored  that  you  should  per- 
mit such  outbursts  of  tumult  and  false 
acclamations  as  have  recently  attended 
your  presence  in  the  city.  Such  dem- 
onstrations, however  gratifying  to 
you,  cannot  Ijut  becloud  your  teachings 
and  result  in  grave  danger,  not  alone  to 

183 


The  Passover 

yourself,  but  to  the  entire  nation  as 
well. 

"In  truth,  this  unfortunate  result  has 
already  been  produced,  and  it  is  be- 
cause of  this  that  I  am  come  thus  out  of 
season  to  speak  with  you.  By  so  do- 
ing am  I  transcending  the  bounds  and 
the  dignity  of  my  office  and  the  judg- 
ment of  my  colleagues;  for  as  a  coun- 
cilor of  the  nation  I  may  not  acknowl- 
edge you  until  such  time  as  you  shall 
have  established  yourself  and  shall 
have  convinced  the  authorities  through 
a  stricter  control  of  the  people  and  a 
more  formal  presentation  of  your 
teachings,  that  you  are  worthy  the  title 
of  Eabbi.  Nevertheless,  am  I  con- 
strained, as  one  who  would  serve  Jeho- 
vah before  man,  to  give  to  you  of  my 
assistance  and  advice,  lest  your  work 
be  'as  water  spilled  on  the  ground 
which  cannot  be  gathered  up  again.'  : 

184 


An  Interpretation 

He  paused  in  invitation  for  response 
and  met  complacently  the  earnest  gaze 
which  the  Nazarene  turned  upon  him. 
Jesus  spoke  his  answer  slowly,  and  in 
his  words  there  trembled  a  note  of  com- 
passion, a  fleeting,  unconscious  reveal- 
ment  of  the  God-given  superiority  of 
the  one  man  above  the  other:  "Be- 
lieve me,  Eabbi  Joseph,  when  I  say  to 
you  that  I  am  not  unmindful  of  your 
esteem  and  the  well  meaning  of  your 
purpose;  but  let  this  knowledge  come 
to  you  and  remain  with  you:  that  he 
whose  trust  is  in  the  Father  has  no 
need  of  any  man's  judgment  or  guid- 
ance. ' ' 

"You  speak  without  knowledge, "  re- 
torted the  Pharisee.  "Never  had  man 
greater  need  of  his  brother's  guidance 
than  have  you  in  this  hour.  Listen: 
You  are  prepared  to  go  to  Jerusalem 
to-night,  to  eat  the  Passover.  You 

185 


The  Passover 

know  that  in  so  doing  you  are  in  danger 
of  arrest  by  the  officers  of  the  San- 
hedrin,  but  you  think  by  the  exercise 
of  caution  to  avoid  them.  Now,  I  say 
to  you,  remain  here.  If  you  value  your 
life  and  would  fulfill  the  work  God  has 
assigned  to  you,  do  not  enter  Jerusa- 
lem to-night.  You  have  shown  much 
wisdom  in  remaining  away  during  the 
past  two  days.  Continue  in  your  wis- 
dom, and  go  not  into  the  city  again 
until  after  the  Passover.  Then  will 
the  excitement  and  the  danger  have 
passed  and  you  shall  be  free  to  preach 
again  among  the  people. 

"With  the  Psalmist  can  I  declare, 
that  'I  have  been  young  and  am  now 
old,  yet  have  I  not  seen  the  righteous 
forsaken.'  And  now,  therefore,  am  I 
an  instrument  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord, 
to  warn  you  and  protect  you.  I  speak 
not  upon  opinion ;  but  I  say  to  you  with 
186 


An  Interpretation 

the  authority  of  assured  knowledge, 
that,  despite  whatever  measures  you 
may  have  thought  to  take,  you  will  be 
seized  and  put  to  death  if  you  venture 
to  eat  the  Passover  in  Jerusalem  to- 
night. 

"In  thus  speaking  to  you  I  forget 
that  I  am  a  member  of  the  council, 
which  has  condemned  you  and  which 
is  seeking  to  destroy  you;  for  I  am 
come  to  you  as  a  man  to  his  neighbor 
in  time  of  trouble.  Verily,  I  say  to  you, 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  that  although  I  be 
numbered  among  those  who  revile  you 
and  persecute  you,  yet  is  it  more  tolera- 
ble in  the  sight  of  righteousness  to  re- 
main thus  in  secret  one  of  your  dis- 
ciples, than  to  be  him  among  your 
acknowledged  friends  who  has  bar- 
gained to  betray  you !  Yes,  be  not  in- 
credulous. I  speak  the  truth:  One 
of  your  twelve  chosen  disciples  stands 

187 


The  Passover 

ready  this  night  to  deliver  you  into  the 
hands  of  Caiaphas! 

"But  enough.  Already  have  I  com- 
promised too  far  the  exactions  of  my 
oath  as  a  judge  of  Israel.  Neverthe- 
less, it  has  been  in  the  service  of  God, 
and  He  will  not  hold  censurable  that 
which  is  done  for  the  prospering  of 
the  kingdom.  Albeit,  you  will  reveal 
to  no  man  what  I  have  spoken  to  you ; 
nor  is  there  need  that  anyone  should 
learn  of  my  presence  here.  I  have 
hazarded  much,  that  you  might  be 
spared  to  Israel.  Therefore,  let  not 
my  word  return  unto  me  void:  Ke- 
main  here;  enter  not  into  Jerusalem 
to-night.  I  have  spoken.  The  Lord 
bless  you  and  keep  you." 

He  rose  while  reciting  his  valedic- 
tion, and  without  further  ceremony 
turned  and  walked  proudly  out  of  the 
garden. 

188 


VI 


VI 

"Master,  your  friends  await  you  at 
the  gate." 

Jesus  had  already  entered  the  court 
from  the  garden  when  Mary,  on  her 
way  to  call  him,  met  him  and  spoke  to 
him. 

"Yes,"  he  answered  vaguely,  as  one 
aroused  from  abstraction — "yes,  I  have 
been  expecting  them.  It  must  be  more 
than  midway  of  the  first  watch,  and 
the  time  is  come  for  the  eating  of  the 
Passover."  He  halted  as  he  spoke 
and  looked  out  across  the  tree  tops  at 
the  now  full-risen  moon. 

"There  is  yet  ample  time,"  re- 
sponded Mary.  "Lazarus  has  only 
now  gone  over  to  our  neighbor  Simon 's 
191 


The  Passover 

house,  to  assist  him  in  presiding  at  the 
meal. ' ' 

''Does  Simon  look  for  me  to  eat  the 
Passover  at  his  house?" 

"Yes,  Master;  so  I  understood  Laz- 
arus to  say." 

Jesus  bent  his  gaze  upon  Mary,  who 
stood  facing  him  with  her  head  grace- 
fully inclined  in  customary  attitude  of 
womanly  respect  and  her  hands  folded 
limply  before  her.  "Lazarus,  then, 
does  not  know  that  I  have  arranged  to 
eat  the  Passover  with  my  disciples  in 
Jerusalem?" 

Mary  started  and  raised  her  eyes 
impulsively  to  his.  "No,  Master,  he 
surely  has  no  thought  of  this!  and 
must  it  indeed  be  so  ?  Is  it  not  better 
that  you  should  eat  to-night  with  Laz- 
arus and  our  neighbors?  Your  friends 
who  are  now  here,  could  they  not  carry 

192 


An  Interpretation 

word  to  the  others  that  you  will  remain 
in  Bethany?" 

The  argument  and  suggestion  in- 
volved in  her  hastily  spoken  query 
were  but  the  spontaneous  promptings 
of  an  anxious  heart;  an  artless  effort 
to  proffer  the  guidance  of  her  instinct, 
without  defying  the  strict  canons  of 
her  sex  against  the  offering  of  council 
or  opinion. 

Jesus  apparently  gave  no  heed  to 
her  questioning.  Absently,  as  if  in 
meditation,  he  reverted  to  her  previous 
words:  " Lazarus,  you  say,  expects 
me  to  eat  with  him  and  the  neighbors 
at  Simon's  house?  They  have  pre- 
pared a  place  for  me  at  the  table?" 

"Yes,  Master;  and  even  were  it  not 
so,  neighbor  Simon's  door  stands  open 
to  you.  You  know  that  next  to  our- 
selves there  is  no  one  other  than  he 

193 


The  Passover 

who  is  at  all  times  so  ready  to  receive 
you,  and  that  none,  dear  Master,  would 
be  a  more  welcome  guest  at  his  table 
to-night  than  you."  As  she  spoke,  her 
face  lighted  with  a  smile — a  radiant 
expression  of  hope  and  relief, — and  in 
that  instant  there  shone  within  her 
eyes  the  rapturing  light  of  ardent 
womanhood,  a  momentary  glimpse  of 
the  unshrouded  feminine  in  the  full  pu- 
rity of  its  sacredness  and  impelling  fas- 
cination. 

Jesus  put  forth  his  hand  as  though 
to  touch  her.  For  an  instant  it  hov- 
ered near;  vibrant,  eloquent  with 
yearning ;  then  slowly  and  unsteadily  he 
allowed  it  to  fall  again  to  his  side.  He 
did  not  speak.  Only  in  the  tensity  of 
his  silence  did  he  give  utterance  to  a 
heart  strained  and  throbbing  with  emo- 
tion. 

"Kabbi,"  called  a  voice  from  the 

194 


An  Interpretation 

shadows;  and  a  moment  later  the  fig- 
ure of  a  man  followed  by  t^  others 
approached  the  recess  of  tt^sjourt  in 
which  Jesus  stood.  "We  thought  to 
look  for  you,  Master,  fearing  T.ou  had 
perchance  forgotten  that  we  were  wait- 
ing for  you,"  explained  the  spokesman, 
as  he  and  his  companions  drew  near. 
"It  is  growing  late,  and  if  we  are  to 
eat  the  Passover  in  the  city,  should  we 
not  be  on  our  way?  By  this  time  the 
others  have  already  joined  Peter  and 
John  at  Johanan's  house,  and  will  be 
anxious  if  we  longer  delay." 

Jesus  inclined  his  eyes  once  more  to 
Mary,  who,  instinctively  responsive  to 
the  duty  of  maidenhood  in  the  presence 
of  men,  stood  now  again  with  clasped 
hands,  retiring  and  submissively  silent. 
"Yes,  Andrew,"  he  answered,  "the 
time  is  come  for  our  departure,"  and 
as  he  spoke  he  slowly  faced  his  friends 

195 


The  Passover 

and  stepped  forward  to  join  them.  "I 
meant  in  {  to  have  worried  you  by  de- 
laying. ^  was  good  of  yon,  Andrew, 
and  of  you,  James  and  Thomas,  to  re- 
main a  -id  wait  for  me.  Come,  we  will 
tarry  no  longer;  only  I  ask  that  you 
will  go  with  me  by  way  of  Simon's 
house,  that  I  may  let  him  know  I  will 
not  eat  with  him  to-night." 

As  his  companions  started  forward 
he  turned  to  Mary.  A  sudden  gleam 
trembled  upon  her  pendent  lashes  and 
illumined  with  meaning  the  childlike 
quiver  of  her  lip.  " Master!" — It  was 
a  whispered,  involuntary  cry  of  en- 
treaty, an  unintentioned  baring  of  her 
soul;  and  in  the  immediate  conscious- 
ness of  shame  and  impotent  woman- 
hood she  averted  her  face  and  said  no 
more.  And  as  Jesus  spoke  to  her  she 
responsively  folded  her  hands  as  one 

196 


An  Interpretation 

who  prays,  and  fixed  her  unseeing  eyes 
upon  the  night's  infinitude. 

"The  Lord  bless  you,  Mary,  and  keep 
you.  The  Lord  make  His  face  to  shine 
upon  you  and  be  gracious  unto  you. 
The  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance  upon 
you  and  give  you  peace."  He  bent 
over  and  pressed  his  lips  gently  upon 
her  brow.  "Farewell.  God  be  with 
you." 

The  footsteps  of  the  four  men  passed 
out  of  hearing.  Only  the  mournful 
rustle  of  the  trees  and  the  trickle  of 
the  courtyard  fountain  greeted  her  lis- 
tening ear.  About  her  was  the  still- 
ness of  peace.  Silence.  The  overrul- 
ing silence  of  the  night — this  night; 
the  self -same  silence  that  had  lain 
upon  the  hearts  of  Egypt  awaiting  in 
the  darkness  the  coming  of  the  angel. 
197 


The  Passover 

The  Passover!  Not  until  this  hour 
had  she  given  it  interpretation.  And 
now,  in  the  sudden  presence  of  its  spir- 
it, her  soul  gazed  trembling  with 
strange  affrightment  upon  its  allusive 
mystery  of  sacrifice  and  of  salvation 
through  death. 

"Mary!"  It  was  the  voice  of  Mar- 
tha calling  from  the  house. 

"Yes,  sister,  I  am  coming,"  and  with 
her  arms  folded  in  her  mantle  she 
crossed  the  court  and  found  Martha 
awaiting  her  at  the  door. 

"Where  have  you  been,  Mary?"  she 
demanded  querulously.  "Have  you 
forgotten  that  we  are  to  go  to  Simon's 
house  to-night?" 

"Is  there  need,  sister,  that  we  should 
go?"  returned  Mary. 

"No,  I  suppose  not;  only  we  had  so 
planned,   and  I  thought  it  was  your 
especial  wish  to  go." 
198 


An  Interpretation 

"Now  that  the  time  has  come,  sister, 
I  would  rather  that  we  remain  at  home, 
unless  it  should  please  you  to  do  other- 
wise." 

"No;  I  am  myself  quite  content  not 
to  go.  We  are  not  truly  needed,  for 
there  will  be  a  company  of  others  to 
assist  in  the  serving  of  the  meal,  and, 
as  you  know,  I  am  one  of  those  who  be- 
lieve that  as  women  may  not  partake 
of  the  feast  it  is  more  becoming  that 
they  be  not  present  unless  they  can  be 
of  service.  Moreover,  we  are  both  of 
us  worn  with  the  day's  preparations 
and  it  is  better  that  we  should  rest  and 
sleep. ' ' 

She  stepped  back  through  the  door- 
way as  she  spoke,  and  together  the  two 
sisters  entered  the  house.  The  door 
led  directly  into  the  low,  square  room 
that  served  as  the  general  living  apart- 
ment; its  furniture  and  conveniences 

199 


The  Passover 

indicating  at  once  a  condition  of  domes- 
tic welfare  above  that  of  the  average 
village  family.  A  terra-cotta  lamp,  set 
upon  a  shelf  in  the  wall,  burned  blue 
with  lowered  flame.  Martha  reached 
up  and  with  quick,  deft  fingers  raised 
and  trimmed  its  sputtering  wick. 

"Babbi  Jesus  was  late  in  leaving  for 
Simon's  house,"  she  remarked  in  cas- 
ual comment,  as  she  readjusted  the 
brightened  lamp. 

"The  Master  did  not  go  to  our  neigh- 
bor 's, ' '  answered  Mary.  * '  He  is  on  his 
way  to  Jerusalem.  He  will  eat  the 
Passover  there,  with  his  disciples. " 

Martha  faced  about  with  a  shrug  of 
impatient  surprise.  "Did  he  not 
know,"  she  asked,  "that  Lazarus  and 
Simon  expected  him!" 

"No,  sister,  not  until  it  was  too  late. 
Lazarus,  no  doubt,  thought  he  had 
spoken  to  him  about  it,  but  he  could  not 
20O 


An  Interpretation 

have  done  so.  We  ourselves  should 
have  mentioned  it  to  him." 

"No,"  retorted  Martha;  "it  is  not 
for  women  to  meddle  in  the  affairs  of 
men!  Moreover,  notwithstanding  that 
the  Master  has  remained  here  as  our 
guest  during  the  past  two  days,  we  have 
scarcely  seen  him.  The  opportunity 
was  not  ours  had  we  been  so  inclined. 
Not  more  than  twice  has  he  sat  with  us 
at  table  during  these  two  days." 

"Yes,  sister;  but  is  it  not  because 
he  was  troubled  and  would  be  alone? 
Should  we  not  be  comforted  that  he 
finds  here  the  seclusion  and  freedom 
from  intercourse  that  his  burdened 
heart  desires?  Surely,  it  is  not  only  I 
who  see  that  he  is  suffering  and  in 
sorrow!  You,  sister,  and  everyone 
who  loves  him  and  cares  for  him  can- 
not but  feel  how  deeply  wounding  must 
be  to  him  the  thought  that  he  may  not 

20 1 


The  Passover 

venture  into  the  city  because  of  the 
faithlessness  of  the  people;  that  he  is 
become  an  outcast,  in  actual  danger  of 
harm,  when  all  his  thoughts,  all  his 
words  are  of  love  and  of  peace  and  of 
the  glory  of  the  kingdom. 

"0  sister,  does  not  your  heart  ache 
for  him !  And  yet  how  utterly  helpless 
and  without  power  are  we  to  comfort 
him  or  shield  him.  If  only  we  could 
have  spoken  in  time  to  prevent  his  go- 
ing to  Jerusalem  to-night.  This  much 
we  might  indeed  have  done  had  we  but 
known.  Surely,  he  ought  not  to  have 
gone.  Of  all  times,  we  should  this 
night  have  kept  him  with  us.  Only 
yesterday  did  Lazarus  tell  us  of  what 
he  had  heard  concerning  the  anger  of 
the  high  priest  and  of  the  spies  he  has 
set  throughout  the  city." 

As  Mary  spoke  she  anxiously  watched 
her  sister's  face,  and  now,  clasping  her 
2O2 


An  Interpretation 

arm,  she  exclaimed,  "Nay,  Martha,  you 
cannot  hide  it  from  me !  You,  too,  be- 
lieve that  he  is  in  danger ;  that  it  is  un- 
safe for  him  to  be  in  Jerusalem  to- 
night! Nay,  more,  you  feel  that  some 
calamity  is  impending ;  that  his  life  is  in 
peril!  It  was  wrong  for  me  not  to 
have  spoken  to  him  and  urged  him  to 
stay  I  Tell  me,  sister,  is  it  yet  too  late  1 
Can  I  not  go  and  speak  to  Lazarus, 
that  he  may  call  the  Master  back?" 

Martha  laid  a  calming  hand  on 
Mary's  shoulder.  "No,"  she  said 
firmly,  "such  talk  is  without  reason. 
Eabbi  Jesus  is  master  of  his  own  acts. 
It  is  not  for  you  or  even  for  Lazarus 
to  presume  to  interfere  with  what  he 
has  done.  Moreover,  I  have  no  such 
fear  concerning  him  as  your  frightened 
fancy  has  aroused  in  you.  He  knows 
better  than  you  or  I  what  dangers  be- 
set him,  and  if  he  has  chosen  to  go  to 
203 


The  Passover 

Jerusalem  with  his  friends  to-night  we 
may  rest  content  that  he  has  assured 
himself  of  his  comfort  and  safety.  I 
confess  I  am  surprised  that  he  should 
have  gone,  when  he  must  know  that  he 
could  have  eaten  the  supper  with  Simon 
or  any  other  host  of  Bethany.  But  it 
is  not  for  me,  a  woman,  to  question  the 
acts  of  a  rabbi ;  and  you,  Mary,  should 
learn  better  to  control  your  heart  and 
your  mind  concerning  the  Master. 

"It  is  not  seemly  for  a  maiden  so 
readily  to  yield  for  a  man  her  sympathy 
and  solicitude,  for  it  is  not  given  to  her 
to  understand  his  nature  or  the  prob- 
lems that  beset  him.  And,  moreover, 
even  thus  to  discuss  the  Master  be- 
tween ourselves  is  wholly  without  profit, 
since  it  lies  not  with  us  by  one  hair's 
breadth  to  shape  his  pathway.  Let  us, 
therefore,  to-night  talk  no  more  about 
him,  but  seek  our  couches  in  the  meek 

204 


An  Interpretation 

and  humbling  remembrance  that  Jeho- 
vah— and  not  you  or  I — is  the  keeper 
of  his  safety  and  his  welfare." 

•  •••••• 

Mary  awoke  with  a  start.  Distinctly 
she  had  heard  her  name  called,  once 
and  then  again,  out  of  the  slumbering 
depths  of  the  night.  She  turned  in- 
stinctively, with  a  half-uttered  inquir- 
ing response,  toward  her  sister's  couch. 
Martha  lay  sleeping  beside  her,  breath- 
ing with  the  fulness  of  restful  slumber. 
She  did  not  return  even  an  answering 
stir  when  Mary  put  her  hand  upon  her 
and  spoke  to  her ;  and  in  the  deep  isola- 
tion of  her  unconsciousness  she  seemed 
but  to  heighten  and  give  embodiment 
to  the  eerie  loneliness  of  the  room  that 
chilled  the  startled  and  groping  senses 
of  the  awakened  sister. 

"With  quickened  ear,  attuned  to  a 
vivid  remembrance  of  the  call  that  had 

205 


The  Passover 

aroused  her,  Mary  listened,  half  raised 
upon  her  elbow,  for  a  repetition  of  the 
voice;  for  some  directing  or  explain- 
ing sound  amid  the  rigid  silence  of  the 
uncertain  hour.  The  room  was  as  a 
grave  in  its  stillness.  The  light  of  the 
moon  streamed  in  through  its  one  small 
window,  making  visible  each  object 
within  .its  narrow  space.  It  revealed 
no  living  presence  other  than  her  sister 
and  herself ;  nor  did  the  night  without, 
by  faintest  sign,  give  evidence  of 
movent  life,  beyond  the  tristful  wander- 
ing of  the  breeze  amid  the  foliate 
garden. 

Doubtingly  and  unsatisfied  she  sank 
back  upon  her  pillow.  If  she  had  but 
dreamed,  whence  came  the  dream? 
What  message  lay  within  its  wakening 
call?  Or  was  it  but  the  childish  outcry 
of  her  own  afflicted  heart,  enchimed 
with  His  in  dreams  of  dread  forebod- 

206 


An  Interpretation 

ing?  She  offered  no  solution  to  her 
questionings.  They  came  and  passed 
as  troubled  fancies.  Weary  of  body, 
weary  of  mind,  she  drifted  in  restless 
thought  and  perplexity,  until  gradually 
her  form  relaxed  and  her  drooping  eyes 
fell  shut  in  dreamful  doze. 

But  scarely  had  she  drawn  the  first 
deep  breath  of  sleep  when  with  a  suf- 
focating cry  of  fear  she  sprang  upright 
upon  her  couch:  "Judas!"  As  one 
entranced  she  sat  in  rigid  terror,  star- 
ing at  the  visioned  face  before  her — a 
face  besmeared  with  blood  and  twitch- 
ing with  a  leer  of  murderous  passion. 
And  as  it  slowly  passed  away  before 
the  dawning  of  her  conscious  sight, 
there  came  again  the  gentle  voice  from 
out  the  darkness,  calling  "Mary; 
Mary. ' ' 

She  waited  not  again  to  doubt  the 
prompting  of  her  fears.  Why  had  she 

207 


The  Passover 

not  responded  at  once?  Why  had  she 
questioned?  Had  not  the  spirit  within 
already  interpreted  aright?  Full- 
roused  and  tense  with  resolution,  she 
sprang  from  her  bed.  Her  garments 
hung  close  to  hand  upon  the  wall.  As 
one  impelled  to  flight,  she  clad  herself 
hastily  in  her  outer  cloak  and  her  san- 
dals. She  did  not  stop  to  bind  her  hair 
with  its  scarf.  Her  mantle  thrown 
over  her  head  and  fastened  closely  at 
the  throat  sufficed  to  conceal  it.  She 
was  in  haste;  she  dared  not  tarry;  she 
must  go!  With  quick  and  noiseless 
tread,  as  she  clasped  her  girdle  about 
her,  she  crossed  the  room  and  unfas- 
tened the  door. 

For  an  instant  she  turned  and  looked 
at  the  sleeping  form  of  Martha.  Sure- 
ly, she  must  wake  her  and  tell  her ;  she 
dared  not  do  this  thing  without  her 
sanction.  But  what  had  she  to  tell? 
208 


An  Interpretation 

How  could  she  explain  ?  Martha  would 
not  understand.  She  herself  did  not 
understand.  She  only  knew  with  the 
certainty  of  inspired  terror,  that  the 
Master  was  in  danger;  that  she  must 
fly  to  him  and  warn  him.  All  else  was 
oblivion.  Eeason,  duty,  honor,  pride, 
obedience — all  were  stilled  in  the  storm 
of  the  overpowering  conscience  that 
possessed  her  soul.  Again,  in  shud- 
dering recollection,  as  she  hesitated 
upon  the  threshold,  the  face  of  Judas 
rose  before  her  in  the  full  horror  of 
its  portent,  softened  only  by  the  heav- 
ened  voice  of  the  Master  still  sounding 
in  her  ears  in  plaintive  urgence. 

Closing  the  door  softly  behind  her, 
she  passed  out  into  the  night. 

Mechanically  she  drew  the  hood  of 
her  mantle  about  her  face  and  with  her 
arms  wrapped  within  her  cloak  she  hur- 
ried forward  through  the  garden  and 

209 


The  Passover 

out  of  its  gate  into  a  byway  leading 
steeply  to  the  mountain  path.  The 
sound  of  laughter  and  singing  came  to 
her  from  the  village  streets,  announc- 
ing the  conclusion  of  paschal  suppers 
and  the  breaking  up  of  the  companies. 
Was  she  then  too  late?  had  she  heeded 
too  tardily  the  warning  of  her  dreams  ? 
Only  thus  did  the  circumstance  of  her 
flight  disturb  her  fevered  thoughts.  It 
brought  to  her  no  realizing  sense  of 
the  impropriety,  the  shame,  the  danger, 
that  must  attend  the  lone  presence  of  a 
woman  upon  the  streets  or  public  road 
at  this  hour  of  the  night.  She  cared 
for  nothing,  was  conscious  of  noth- 
ing, beyond  the  one  impelling  pur- 
pose of  her  being — to  reach  the  Mas- 
ter. She  recked  not  how  she  could 
find  him,  where  to  look  for  him,  what 
means  lay  with  her  to  shield  him  or 
guide  him.  She  realized  only  that  she 

21O 


An  Interpretation 

must  go  to  him.  The  spirit  that  had 
called  her  would  direct  her  and  make 
clear  to  her  whatever  lay  before  her  to 
do. 

Breathless  with  rapid  walking,  she 
reached  the  summit  of  the  mount,  and 
in  the  relaxation  of  descent  allowed  her 
steps  to  hurry  her  forward  even  more 
rapidly  over  the  second  half  of  her 
course.  The  bright  moonlight,  together 
with  her  guidant  sense  of  direction,  en- 
abled her  without  trouble  to  follow  the 
winding  path,  and  unresponsive  to  the 
peril  that  lurked  in  the  possible  con- 
cealment of  vagrants  and  camp  strag- 
glers within  the  shadows  and  secluded 
orchards  that  lay  upon  her  way,  she 
hastened  fearlessly  onward  down  the 
slope. 

Although  she  passed  close  to  some 
of  the  pilgrim  camps  and  caught 
here  and  there  a  darkened  glimpse 
211 


The  Passover 

of  men  and  women  moving  about 
among  the  tents,  it  was  not  until 
she  approached  the  gate  and  entered 
the  city  itself  that  she  encountered 
the  presence  of  others  upon  her  way. 
At  first  singly,  and  then  in  scattered 
companies  as  she  turned  into  the 
street  which  she  knew  would  take  her 
toward  Bezetha,  they  increased  in  num- 
bers about  her ;  of ttimes  confusing  her 
sight  with  the  lanterns  and  torches 
which  many  of  them  carried  for  the 
lighting  of  their  path. 

They  were  all  of  them  men,  return- 
ing homeward  from  the  celebration  of 
the  Passover.  As  she  passed  them  by 
not  one  among  them  failed  to  turn  or 
stop  to  look  upon  her.  There  were 
those  who  called  to  her  and  others  who 
sought  to  touch  her  and  detain  her. 
Yet  each  of  them  on  second  glance  be- 
came aware  of  his  mistake.  Though 

212 


An  Interpretation 

she  neither  spoke  nor  gave  sign  of  re- 
sentment or  alarm,  there  was  that  in 
her  bodily  expression  of  innocence,  in 
her  breathless,  eager,  almost  passionate 
haste,  which  disarmed  at  once  all  brutal 
thought  and  aroused  instead  a  rough 
compassion  for  her — a  woman  stressed 
beyond  the  fear  of  men  with  some  unto- 
ward anxiety. 

Becoming  with  each  encounter  more 
fully  sensible  of  her  situation,  but 
driven  onward  by  the  unabated  urgence 
of  her  spirit,  she  drew  her  mantle  yet 
more  closely  about  her  and  pressed  on 
with  increasing  hurry,  unmindful  of 
her  weariness  and  the  rapid  beating  of 
her  heart.  The  house  of  Johanan  on 
Bezetha!  Through  a  recollection  of 
the  words  spoken  by  Andrew,  this  alone 
was  her  guide  amid  a  tanglement  of 
directions  in  a  neighborhood  of  the  city 
completely  unfamiliar  to  her.  Follow- 

213 


The  Passover 

ing  blindly  a  crooked,  npleading  street, 
she  ascended  the  mount,  tensively  alert 
for  some  familiar  voice  amid  the  groups 
of  men  that  passed  her,  and  glancing 
eagerly  into  each  lighted  window  that 
shone  upon  her  way. 

But  was  she  not  thus  permitting  her- 
self to  depend  wholly  upon  chance? 
Must  she  not  determine  where  to  seek 
Johanan's  house?  Involuntarily,  with 
all  the  innate  pride  and  fear  of  virtuous 
womanhood,  she  shrank  from  address- 
ing a  stranger  in  public.  Yet  if  she 
had  thus  far,  by  her  unprivileged  pres- 
ence on  the  streets,  imperiled  her 
honor  and  her  safety  in  her  desire  to 
aid  the  Master,  should  she  now  scruple 
at  this — the  possible  exposure  of  her 
identity,  the  possible  sacrifice  of  her 
good  name? 

She  found  herself  at  a  branching  of 
the  street,  irresolute  which  way  to  go. 
214 


An  Interpretation 

Suddenly,  the  dark  figure  of  a  man  ap- 
peared within  the  court  in  which  she 
stood  and  came  rapidly  toward  her. 
As  he  approached  she  boldly  raised  her 
head  to  address  him.  At  sight  of  her 
he  stopped  abruptly,  and  as  he  did  so 
the  light  of  the  moon  fell  full  upon  his 
face. 

"Judas!"  Her  cry  was  the  pained 
and  terrored  outburst  of  one  who  had 
been  struck.  With  uplifted  arms 
shielding  her  face  she  crouched  back, 
away  from  him,  in  dread  abhorrence 
and  consternation. 

Himself  pale  and  startled  with  aston- 
ishment, he  stared  at  the  shuddering 
figure  before  him.  "In  the  name  of 
God,  who  are  you!'*  he  exclaimed  in 
dazed  incredulity.  He  reached  out 
impetuously  and  grasped  her  arm. 
"Nay,  seek  not  to  hide  your  face!  I 
know  of  a  truth  it  is  you,  Mary;  but 

215 


The  Passover 

what  does  this  mean!  Why  are  you 
here — in  this  place — at  this  hour — 
and  alone?  Answer  me!  What  does 
it  mean?" 

For  answer  she  threw  off  his  hold 
upon  her  arm  with  unexpected  vehe- 
mence and  turned  upon  him  a  coun- 
tenance regnant  with  sudden  determi- 
nation and  defiance.  "  Where  is  the 
Master?"  she  demanded. 

"He  is  still  at  the  supper,"  returned 
Judas,  surprised  into  unequivocal  re- 
sponse at  her  peremptory  question. 

"Then  why  are  you  not  with  him?" 
she  went  on.  "Why  are  you  thus  hur- 
rying away  toward  the  city? — No,  do 
not  speak  to  me!  Withhold  your  an- 
swer. Think  not  to  deceive  me.  Al- 
ready do  I  know.  I  have  not  been  led 
without  reason.  You  would  harm  the 
Master ! — you  would  betray  him ! — you 
are  bent  upon  some  evil  toward  him!" 

2l6 


An  Interpretation 

Judas  started  and  clenched  his  hands. 
' '  Enough  of  this  babbling  speech ! "  he 
interrupted  excitedly.  "Tell  me  what 
this  means!  What  madness  has 
brought  you  here?  For  what  purpose 
are  you  come?  Whom  do  you  seek?" 

"I  seek  the  Master.  Tell  me  where 
is  Johanan's  house.  Nay,  speak  no 
word  to  me !  Leave  me ;  go  your  way ! 
I  shall  ask  of  these  men  approaching 
where  I  may  find  him." 

"A  truce  to  this  unreasoning  and 
shameless  talk!"  commanded  Judas, 
speaking  hastily  and  with  the  harsh- 
ness of  angry  alarm.  "Defile  your 
own  name  if  it  so  please  you,  but  bring 
not  ridicule  and  dishonor  upon  Eabbi 
Jesus  by  inquiring  for  him  of  strange 
men  upon  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  at 
midnight!  Peace,  Mary!  I  say  to 
you,  peace !  You  talk  as  one  possessed 
of  a  demon.  Verily,  some  evil  spirit  is 
217 


The  Passover 

within  you  and  has  driven  you  to  this 
amazing  pass,  that  you  are  come  to  the 
city,  alone,  on  the  Passover  night,  to 
warn  the  Master  against  one  of  his 
own  disciples! 

"You  are  mad;  you  are  but  dream- 
ing; you  know  not  what  you  say  or 
do!  Who  has  spoken  to  you — what 
have  you  heard,  that  you  are  so 
ready  to  accuse  me  of  evil  motives? 
Aye,  you  dare  not  answer  me — you 
cannot;  you  have  heard  nothing,  you 
know  nothing,  to  justify  your  foul  sus- 
picion. It  is  but  your  own  ill-minded 
fancy,  your  own  false,  distrustful  heart, 
which  is  ever  ready  to  scorn  me  and 
defame  me !  Have  I  charged  you  with 
unholy  motives  because  I  find  you  here 
upon  the  streets  ?  Of  a  truth,  you  shall 
have  much  to  answer  for  should  this 
become  known.  As  for  myself,  I  have 
nought  to  conceal,  nought  to  be 
2l8 


An  Interpretation 

ashamed  of.  Although  it  is  not  for  a 
man  to  explain  to  a  woman,  neverthe- 
less will  I  tell  you  that  I  am  upon  an 
errand  for  the  Master  to  a  friend  in 
the  neighborhood.  If  you  do  not  be- 
lieve me,  if  you  will  see  no  good  in  me, 
come  back  with  me  to  the  house  and  the 
Master  himself  shall  tell  you  I  speak 
the  truth." 

He  faced  partially  about,  as  if  to  re- 
trace his  steps.  Mary  did  not  offer  to 
follow  him,  nor  did  she  make  any  com- 
ment upon  his  words.  The  tense,  de- 
termined poise  of  her  figure  had  given 
way  to  an  attitude  of  irresolution ;  and 
as  Judas  turned  again  toward  her  and 
continued  speaking,  she  slowly  bowed 
her  head  and  stood  before  him  con- 
strained and  unresponsive. 

' '  No,  you  dare  not  go  back  with  me ! ' ' 
he  taunted.  ''What  words  of  mine  or 
yours  would  suffice  to  explain  to  the 
219 


The  Passover 

Master  and  our  company  the  meaning 
of  your  presence  here — your  desire  to 
come  among  them?  You  would  bring 
them  warning?  Against  what? — 
against  whom?  Yet  even  were  it  true 
that  danger  threatened,  when  has  it 
been  given  to  a  maiden  to  wander  forth 
in  the  city  at  midnight  to  be  a  bearer 
of  news  unto  men?  Nay,  you  have  no 
defense,  except  only  that  you  would 
save  Eabbi  Jesus  from  the  evil  of  your 
own  shameless  imaginings !  You  would 
dishonor  your  brother  and  your  sister, 
you  would  imperil  your  name,  your 
virtue,  your  life,  that  you  might  per- 
chance win  the  gratitude  of  Jesus! 
For  what  other  man  would  you  do  this 
thing? — for  Gamaliel — for  me?  Bah, 
woman!  I  say  unto  you — " 

He  raised  his  hand  in  an  attitude  of 
menace,  his  voice  a-tremble  with  passion 
and  his  eyes  blazing  with  envenomed 

220 


An  Interpretation 

rage.  But  lie  did  not  proceed.  He 
held  himself  with  nervous  effort,  and  as 
Mary  lifted  her  eyes  in  startled  appre- 
hension he  let  fall  his  hand  and  covered 
his  perturbation  with  an  affected  cough. 

Before  he  could  again  speak,  Mary 
stepped  toward  him  precipitately. 
"Nay,  Judas,  I  will  see  the  Master!" 
she  exclaimed,  in  sudden  recrudescence 
of  her  purpose.  "I  am  not  deceived — 
your  voice  belies  you:  You  hate  the 
Master!  My  spirit  has  not  spoken  to 
me  in  vain;  God  has  not  led  me  thus 
far  for  no  purpose.  I  care  not  for 
your  taunts  and  your  threats!  You 
shall  lead  me  to  Johanan's  house!" 

But  as  Judas,  in  ready  acceptance  of 
her  challenge,  started  forward,  she  hes- 
itated and  drew  back,  again  overcome 
with  a  realization  of  her  dilemma. 
"No,  I  shall  wait  for  him  here,"  she 
declared,  her  voice  high-strung  and 

221 


The  Passover 

almost  vehement  with  hysterical  inde- 
cision. "He  must  pass  this  way,  even 
as  you  have  done.  Go  upon  your  er- 
rand! Leave  me!  Leave  me  to  my- 
self!" 

"Nay,  Mary,  I  dare  not  leave  you," 
protested  Judas.  His  voice  had  be- 
come calm  and  he  spoke  with  insinuat- 
ing friendliness.  "I  meant  not  to  have 
said  what  I  did.  I  am  but  overwrought 
at  finding  you  thus  and  at  your  un- 
thinking readiness  to  bring  suspicion 
and  reproach  upon  the  Master ;  and  in 
my  temper  and  agitation  at  thought  of 
your  rashness  I  have  spoken  hastily 
and  without  consideration.  Were  I  not 
truly  concerned  because  of  you  I  might 
readily  have  gone  my  way  and  left  you 
to  the  evil  of  your  reckless  purpose. 
Therefore,  believe  me,  Mary,  that  de- 
spite your  contempt  and  evil  thought 
of  me,  I  am  not  unmindful  of  my  oluty 
222 


An  Interpretation 

toward  you.  I  bear  you  no  ill  will  for 
thinking  to  accuse  me  of  treachery  to- 
ward Eabbi  Jesus.  Your  own  reason 
tells  you  it  is  false ;  for,  did  I  bear  him 
malice,  would  I  have  sat  with  him  at 
the  paschal  supper,  and  would  I  now  be 
upon  an  errand  for  him,  at  hazard  of 
arrest,  if  I  were  aught  but  a  faithful 
friend  and  disciple? 

"Banish,  therefore,  from  your  mind 
the  accursed  hallucination  that  is  upon 
you,  and  hasten  home  ere  some  calam- 
ity befall  you  or  you  are  again  minded 
to  stultify  the  Master  in  the  eyes  of 
men  by  seeking  for  him  thus  in  public 
as  a  wanton  of  the  streets.  Tarry  not 
a  moment  longer!  Eeturn  at  once  to 
Bethany,  and  pray  the  Lord  that  no 
other  man  but  me  has  recognized  you ; 
for,  truly,  a  man  in  my  place  would 
need  but  ope  his  mouth  in  gossip,  to 
make  of  you  forever  an  outcast  among 
223 


The  Passover 

the  people.  Therefore,  if  you  would 
have  me  hold  inviolate  the  knowledge 
which  is  mine,  do  as  I  bid  you:  Go; 
leave  the  city  at  once,  and  let  haste  and 
vigilance  guide  you  homeward.  See 
that  you  speak  to  no  man ;  and  may  the 
Lord  keep  you  and  protect  you." 

He  did  not  wait  to  satisfy  himself 
of  her  response;  but  with  a  tactful 
show  of  confidence  in  the  power  of  his 
words  he  walked  deliberately  away  and 
soon  disappeared  beyond  the  building 
that  abutted  upon  the  turn  of  the  street. 

Apparently  dazed  and  without  voli- 
tion, Mary  stood  listening  to  his  foot- 
falls— subdued,  vulpine,  almost  noise- 
less footfalls  upon  the  silence  of  the 
darkened  streets.  Not  until  they  died 
away  did  she  move.  Then,  in  sud- 
den, fevered  haste  she  caught  up 
her  cloak,  raising  it  just  free  of  the 
ground  and  catching  it  loosely  in  her 
224 


An  Interpretation 

girdle,  and  a  moment  later,  after  an 
anxious  look  ahead,  was  speeding  down 
the  hill  toward  the  city  gate  with  the 
nervous,  frightened  breathing  of  one 
pursued. 

The  ascending  path  of  Olivet  made 
her  first  aware  of  her  spent  strength. 
Only  then,  in  the  enforced  realization 
that  she  was  now  beyond  the  city,  be- 
yond the  Kidron,  beyond  the  menace 
of  discovery,  did  she  slacken  her  speed 
and  seek  relief  from  the  exhaustive 
panting  of  her  heart.  Spurred  by  the 
reactive  consciousness  of  her  predica- 
ment, her  rashness,  her  peril,  her  un- 
warranted and  beshaming  conduct,  she 
had  fled  homeward,  down  through  the 
tortuous  streets  and  out  of  the  gate, 
knowing  not  how  she  had  avoided  mis- 
adventure, save  only  that  Heaven  had 
guided  her  and  shielded  her,  in  answer 
to  her  throbbing  prayer  that  she  might 

225 


The  Passover 

regain  her  couch  unrecognized  and 
without  her  sister's  knowledge  of  her 
absence. 

But  with  the  spending  of  her  strength 
and  first  impetuous  trepidation,  there 
returned  to  her  again  with  gnawing 
insistence  the  impulse  of  the  spirit 
that  had  led  her  forth.  Had  she  in- 
deed been  true  to  her  conscience  and 
true  to  the  Master,  in  thus  turning 
back?  in  submitting  so  readily  to  the 
plausible  words  of  Judas  I  Yea,  of  a 
surety,  she  had  had  no  alternative. 
Had  not  Judas  indeed  spoken  the 
truth,  that  she  was  but  jeopardizing  her 
own  and  the  Master's  welfare?  Yet 
withal  her  soul  was  not  satisfied  nor  at 
rest.  Again  the  dread  fear  seized 
upon  it,  clutching  and  convulsing  it 
with  the  chill  blackness  of  impending 
evil. 

Slowly  and  yet  more  slowly  her  feet 
226 


An  Interpretation 

dragged  onward  up  the  mountain. 
To  the  left  of  her,  at  some  little  dis- 
tance, lay  the  clustered  shadows  of  an 
orchard.  She  stopped  and  looked  wist- 
fully toward  it.  It  was  the  one  place 
familiar  to  her  amid  the  many  that  lay 
grouped  about  her  in  shadowed  and 
illusory  outline — Gethsemane.  Quiet, 
peaceful,  restful  with  the  solemnity  and 
holy  mystery  of  night,  it  spoke  to  her  of 
the  Master.  It  was  here  he  was  wont  to 
rest  and  at  times  to  spend  the  night  in 
the  solitude  of  its  seclusion.  Yea, 
would  he  not  perchance  stop  here  to- 
night upon  his  return  from  Jerusalem  ? 
Should  she  not,  therefore,  tarry  and 
wait  near,  if  but  to  keep  vigil  in  prayer 
for  his  protection — if  but  to  see  him 
from  afar  and  assuage  her  troubled 
soul  with  assurance  of  his  safety? 


227 


vn 


VII 

"Not  unto  us,  0  Lord,  not  unto  us, 
But  unto  Thy  name  give,  glory, 
For  Thy  mercy  and  for  Thy  truth's 
sake." 

The  chanting  of  a  solitary  voice 
breathed  upon  the  midnight  silence. 
The  sound  came  from  the  window  of 
the  upper  room  of  a  house  in  Jerusa- 
lem, near  the  city's  eastern  wall.  It 
was  the  voice  of  a  man;  low,  yet  clear 
and  of  almost  womanly  softness,  and 
modulated  with  a  tenderness  that  tuned 
the  measured  psalm  with  melody. 

And  as  the  solo  ceased  it  was  an- 
swered by  a  chorus  of  men's  voices: 

"Praise  ye  the  Lord." 
231 


The  Passover 

Any  passerby  upon  the  street  would 
at  once  have  recognized  the  hymn  as 
the  great  Hallelujah  of  the  Passover. 
It  would  have  told  him  that  within  this 
house  the  paschal  supper,  which  that 
night  had  been  eaten  in  every  home  in 
Jerusalem,  was  only  now  coming  to  a 
close.  The  singing  of  the  familiar 
psalms  that  constituted  the  second  part 
of  the  great  festal  hymn,  marked  the 
conclusion  of  the  meal  and  of  the  simple 
ritual  that  accompanied  it.  The  sacri- 
ficial lamb  had  been  eaten,  together 
with  the  bitter  herbs  and  the  unleav- 
ened bread,  the  cup  of  diluted  wine  had 
been  passed  about  for  the  last  time 
with  the  benedictions  of  the  host,  and 
now  the  company,  standing  grouped 
about  the  table  in  readiness  to  depart, 
was  returning  thanks  and  praise  to 
God  in  the  inspiring  words  of  David: 

232 


An  Interpretation 

*'0h,  praise  the  Lord,  all  ye  nations. 

Praise  him,  all  ye  people. 

For  His  merciful  kindness  is  great 

toward  us, 
And  the  truth  of  the  Lord  endureth 

forever. 
Praise  ye  the  Lord." 

The  verses  were  chanted  slowly; 
sometimes  the  one  sweet,  dominating 
voice  singing  alone  and  the  others  re- 
sponding, or  again  the  full  company 
joining  together  in  rhythmical  unison. 
The  voices  were  low  and  ofttimes  fal- 
tering. They  did  not  breathe  the  cus- 
tomary festal  spirit.  They  were  sub- 
dued as  with  a  burden  of  thought  and 
feeling.  Floating  out  into  the  dark- 
ness, the  soft-intoned  psalmody  rose 
scarce  above  a  murmur;  yet  in  the  si- 
lence that  now  brooded  upon  the  city 
the  words  fell  upon  the  ears  of  belated 

233 


The  Passover 

pilgrims  with  a  distinctness  and  with 
an  inspiration  and  a  wonder  of  meaning 
that  lay  beyond  the  giving  of  any  choir 
whose  Hallelujah  had  that  night  risen 
to  heaven  in  full-toned  jubilation. 

"All  nations  compassed  me  about; 
Yea,  they  compassed  me  about; 
But  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  will  I 

conquer  them. 
The  Lord  is  my  strength,  and  my 

song, 

'And  is  become  my  salvation. 
1  shall  not  die,  but  live, 
And  declare  the  works  of  the  Lord. 
The  Lord  hath  chastened  me  sorely; 
But  He  hath  not  given  me  over  unto 

death. 
1  will  praise  Theef  for  Thou  hast 

heard  me, 

'And  art  become  my  salvation. 
Blessed  be  he  that  cometh  in  the  name 

of  the  Lord. 

234 


An  Interpretation 

"In  the  name  of  the  Lord,  Hallelu- 
jah! 
Praise  ye  the  Lord!" 

The  singing  ceased.  There  followed 
the  sound  of  a  voice  in  prayer ;  and  the 
paschal  meeting  was  ended. 

Dim-visioned  in  the  moonlight,  a 
silent  company  of  men  moved  slowly 
down  the  outer  stairway  of  the  house, 
and  filing  through  the  courtyard  gate 
came  out  upon  the  street.  They  were 
twelve  in  number.  Most  of  them  were 
young  men;  and  all  of  them  of  lowly 
station,  as  evidenced  by  their  dress  and 
bearing  and  by  the  provincial  accent  of 
their  speech. 

Forming  in  twos  and  threes  and 
keeping  well  together  in  company,  they 
made  their  way  with  somewhat  hurried 
steps  down  the  steep  and  rugged  street 
of  Bezetha,  which,  cutting  athwart  the 

235 


The  Passover 

hill,  led  them  in  most  direct  path  to  the 
eastern  gate.  They  spoke  but  little  and 
in  constrained  whispers.  Apparently, 
they  were  ill  at  ease  and  anxious  to  es- 
cape attention;  those  who  were  not 
barefooted  taking  care  to  step  lightly, 
and  one  or  another  glancing  about  from 
time  to  time  with  seeming  apprehen- 
sion. Of  their  number  only  two  were 
armed,  and  each  of  these  with  only  a 
common  short  sword,  hidden  beneath 
his  cloak ;  the  rest  being  without  weap- 
ons, except  for  the  walking  staves  which 
some  of  them  carried. 

Save  for  an  occasional  watchman  and 
now  and  then  a  delayed  Passover  cele- 
brant hastening  homeward,  the  city  was 
deserted.  Only  the  red  lights  of  An- 
tonio and  the  twinkling  rays  that 
marked  the  Eoman  towers  on  Mount 
Zion,  remained  of  the  city's  illumina- 
tion. The  Temple,  whose  gates  had 

236 


An  Interpretation 

been  thrown  open  during  the  second 
watch  of  the  night,  that  the  people 
might  bring  at  once  their  thank  offer- 
ings to  God  upon  the  conclusion  of  the 
paschal  supper,  was  now  dimmed  and 
silent;  towering  in  spectral  whiteness 
beyond  the  black-shadowed  battlements 
of  Antonio  and  reflecting  in  cold  lustre 
the  undisputed  luminance  of  the  moon, 
which  now  alone  outlined  the  pathway 
of  the  twelve  amid  the  slumbering  me- 
tropolis. 

Their  way  was  not  long,  and  they 
soon  had  reached  the  familiar  gate  just 
north  of  the  Temple  mount.  They 
passed  through  without  challenge,  for 
throughout  the  Passover  night  the 
Holy  City  was  free  for  the  coming  and 
going  of  all  men.  And  as  they  filed 
down  the  hill  to  the  Kidron  they  re- 
laxed their  bearing  of  restraint;  and 
speaking  now  freely  one  to  another  in 

237 


The  Passover 

evident  relief,  passed  over  the  bridge 
and  set  out  upon  the  road  to  Bethany. 

"It  was  not  for  ourselves,  but  for 
your  sake,  Master,  that  our  hearts  were 
moved  with  fear.  Great  indeed  has 
been  the  peril  you  have  borne,  that  you 
might  keep  with  us  your  promise  to  eat 
the  Passover  in  Jerusalem,  knowing  as 
we  do  how  watchful  are  the  officers  of 
the  Sanhedrin  to  find  opportunity  to 
beset  you  and  deliver  you  up.  Would 
that  we  might  take  the  danger  upon 
ourselves,  or  that  we  might  so  much  as 
share  it  with  you;  but  in  the  eyes  of 
Caiaphas  and  the  chief  priests  we  are 
not  worthy  of  notice. " 

Two  of  the  company,  remaining  ever 
closely  side  by  side,  walked  in  advance 
and  in  descending  the  hill  from  the  city 
had  insensibly  drawn  away  from  the 
others  by  some  little  distance.  It  was 
the  younger  of  these  two  who  had  just 

238 


An  Interpretation 

spoken — a  fair-haired  Galilean,  gentle 
of  voice  and  slender-featured,  and 
whose  beardless  face  bespoke  a  virgin 
youthfulness  of  years. 

His  companion  pressed  his  hand. 
''You  have  been  to  me  always  a  dear 
friend,  John;  a  friend  and  comforter, 
and  faithful  even  unto  death.  Truly, 
never  had  man  more  faithful  friends 
than  I.  Each  of  you  has  held  fast  to 
me  and  believed  in  me,  despite  the  per- 
secutions and  adversities  that  have 
come  upon  me — each  of  you,  save  one. ' ' 

"You  speak  of  Judas?" 

"Yes;  you  have  questioned  truly. 
He  is  no  longer  one  of  you.  He  has 
become  tempted  of  the  world  and  is 
turned  from  me. ' ' 

"Was  it  then  for  some  evil  purpose 
that  he  left  us  to-night?  Yea,  in  my 
heart,  dear  Master,  have  I  been  sorely 
troubled,  fearing  that  all  was  not  well 

239 


The  Passover 

with  him.  On  the  morning  of  the 
fourth  day,  when,  with  James  and 
Matthew,  I  came  to  the  city,  while  you 
rested  at  the  home  of  Lazarus,  did  I 
hear  from  a  servant  of  Caiaphas  that 
Judas  had  been  at  the  palace  of  the 
high  priest  the  night  before.  This, 
however,  he  would  not  acknowledge 
when  in  the  evening  upon  our  return  I 
questioned  him  concerning  it.  Yet 
there  has  been  that  in  his  speech  and 
his  manner  during  the  past  day  which  I 
have  known  not  how  to  interpret  save 
with  foreboding." 

Looking  steadily  before  him,  Jesus 
answered  slowly,  "And  as  your  heart 
has  feared,  even  so  has  it  come  to 
pass." 

John  drew  back  with  a  start.  "He 
has  forsaken  you!  He  would  betray 
you!— he  who  has  been  one  of  us  and 
has  known  you  and  loved  you!  0 

240 


An  Interpretation 

Master,  how  could  he!  How  could  it 
come  to  any  man  to  gender  such  in- 
gratitude? Scarce  can  I  find  it  in  my 
heart  to  contemplate  a  treachery  so 
black  as  this.  My  soul  is  bowed  in 
shame,  that  ever  we  have  supped  with 
him  or  called  him  brother.  "What* 
thought  could  lie  within  his  heart  to 
treat  you  thus? — to  cast  off  his  man- 
hood, in  this  the  hour  of  your  greatest 
peril,  and  forsake  you  for  our  enemies  ? 
Yea,  now  do  I  know  that  he  left  us  this 
night  at  supper,  that  he  might  per- 
chance lead  them  upon  us  while  yet  we 
thought  ourselves  secure  within  our  se- 
cret meeting  place.  By  means  of  the 
very  love  and  confidence  that  we  shared 
with  him  he  would  betray  you  unto 
Caiaphas!  .  .  .  Nay,  I  dare  not 
think  upon  it,  lest  my  blazing  thoughts 
impel  me  to  sin  with  mad  desire  for 
vengeance!  He  is  become  an  outcast 
241 


The  Passover 

from  God — from  the  kingdom  of 
heaven — and  may  the  Lord  do  unto 
him  as  befits  his  iniquity!" 

"Nay,  my  dear  John,  judge  not  has- 
tily. We  know  not  for  what  cause  he 
is  turned  from  me.  Yet  would  no  man 
so  forsake  his  friend  except  he  were 
constrained  by  some  untoward  tempta- 
tion. Only  to  the  Father  is  it  known 
which  of  us  in  the  hour  of  trial  shall 
abide  in  faith  and  strength.  No  man 
may  know  before  it  come  to  pass  how  he 
shall  acquit  himself  in  the  presence  of 
temptation.  If,  therefore,  your  brother 
fall,  think  not  at  once  to  brand  him,  but 
rather  let  your  pity  and  compassion  go 
forth  to  him;  for  who  shall  know  what 
torture  he  has  suffered?  Therefore, 
judge  not ;  but  watch  and  pray  that  you 
be  not  tempted." 

"Ah,  Master,  such  charity  may  be 
242 


An  Interpretation 

for  you ;  but  not  yet  am  I  so  risen  that 
it  lies  within  me  to  give  pity  unto 
Judas !  And  moreover,  it  is  beyond  all 
thought  that  I  could  be  as  he.  What- 
ever else  shall  befall  me  or  in  what- 
ever manner  I  shall  be  tempted,  it  can- 
not be  that  my  heart  shall  ever  for  one 
moment  be  turned  against  you — my 
guide,  my  comforter,  my  friend ;  to  me 
the  dearest  and  most  sacred  of  all 
beings  upon  this  earth!" 

While  he  was  yet  speaking,  others  of 
the  company  drew  near  and  rejoined 
the  two;  and  as  he  finished — his  voice 
risen  with  the  earnestness  of  his  feel- 
ings— one  of  his  companions  cried  out 
impulsively : 

"Yea,  of  a  truth,  has  John  declared 
for  each  of  us !  For  your  sake,  Master, 
I  am  ready  to  go  both  to  prison  and  to 
death.  Though  all  men  should  be  of- 

243 


The  Passover 

fended  because  of  you  and  should  turn 
from  you,  yet  would  I  never  forsake 
you  or  deny  you  1 ' ' 

Jesus  turned  and  smiled  sadly  upon 
him.  "Aye,  Peter;  truly,  the  spirit  is 
willing.  I  know  that  you  love  me  and 
think  for  all  time  to  remain  steadfast — 
you  and  each  of  you  who  are  with  me  at 
this  hour.  But  there  is  that  which  is 
even  now  impending  and  which  may 
come  to  pass  before  the  morning  cock- 
crow, which  will  offend  and  affright  you 
and  give  cause  for  your  tongue  to  deny 
me." 

Peter  lifted  his  hand  in  solemn  ges- 
ture. "Nay,  Master,"  he  protested, 
his  hand  shaking  with  emotion,  "you 
know  not  the  faith  of  your  disciple! 
Even  though  I  be  put  to  torture  that  I 
die,  yet  will  I  not  disown  you.  Bather 
will  my  tongue  glorify  you  unto  the 
end!" 

244 


An  Interpretation 

As  they  talked,  Jesus  had  turned 
aside  from  the  road  and  led  the  way 
toward  an  orchard  on  the  hillside. 
And  now,  drawing  close  to  him,  John 
laid  a  dissuading  hand  upon  his 
shoulder  in  caressing  gentleness. 
"You  speak,  Master,  as  though  there 
were  yet  danger.  Were  it  not  better, 
therefore,  that  we  proceed  on  our  way 
to  Bethany,  than  that  we  tarry  here, 
at  Gethsemane,  so  near  to  the  city?" 

Jesus  continued  onward  for  a  few 
steps  before  replying:  "Bear  with 
me,  John — you  and  all  of  you,  my  dear 
friends, — for  yet  a  little  longer.  Fear 
not ;  for,  believe  me,  nought  shall  come 
to  pass  but  according  to  the  will  of  the 
Father." 

Passing  in  silence  through  the  gate- 
way of  the  enclosing  wall,  he  entered 
the  orchard.  Here  he  stopped  and 
turned  to  his  companions :  '  *  Will  you 
245 


The  Passover 

not  abide  awhile  with  me  here!  The 
night  is  calm  and  the  garden  sweet  with 
flowers.  Eest  here  and  await  my  re- 
turn, for  I  have  need  of  prayer.  .  .  . 
If  in  your  hearts  you  are  troubled,  be- 
lieve me,  there  is  none  of  you  whose 
cares  or  unhappiness  I  do  not  share 
full  many  fold.  Yea,  dear  friends, 
in  my  love  for  you  do  I  ask  that  the 
Father  may  for  all  time  spare  you 
the  tribulation  that  lies  within  my 
heart  this  night.  No,  seek  not  to  bear 
it  with  me ;  give  to  me  only  the  surety 
of  your  abiding  faith.  All  else  have  I 
shared  with  you,  but  this  must  I  bear 
alone.  Only  do  I  speak  of  it,  that  you 
may  know  it  is  not  without  reason  that 
I  ask  you  now  to  turn  aside  and  remain 
with  me  here  while  I  seek  comfort  in 
communion  with  the  Father.  Beyond 
this,  I  cannot  speak.  Yet  this  will  I 

246 


An  Interpretation 

say  to  you :  Pray  that  you  be  spared 
from  temptation." 

Facing  slowly  about,  he  moved  for- 
ward along  a  path  leading  toward  the 
center  of  the  orchard;  his  friends  gaz- 
ing after  him  in  attitudes  of  sympathy 
and  troubled  indecision. 

He  had  gone  but  a  few  paces,  when  he 
stopped  and  looked  back. 

"John,"  he  called  sadly,  "will  you 
not  come  with  me?  Yea,  Peter,  you, 
too,  are  chosen.  And  you,  James,  come 
also,  and  watch  with  me." 

He  waited  for  them  to  join  him ;  then 
mutely  led  the  way  to  a  secluded  spot  in 
the  midst  of  a  planting  of  olive  trees. 
The  chosen  place  was  an  elevation  over- 
looking the  eastern  wall  of  the  orchard. 
An  ancient  oil  press  stood  off  to  one 
side;  its  rough-stone  cylinder  softened 
into  harmony  with  the  garden  by  an 

247 


The  Passover 

overspreading  vine.  Amid  the  hushed 
reclusion  it  alone  bespoke  the  touch  of 
man.  All  else  breathed  only  of  the  In- 
finite. 

Stillness,  tranquillity,  solitude,  filled 
the  earth  and  air.  Across  the  night  the 
pallid  stars  bedecked  the  fields  of 
heaven,  while  the  light  of  the  Passover 
moon,  shimmering  through  the  still  net- 
work of  olive  branches,  flecked  the  ten- 
der grass  of  spring  with  virescent 
silver.  In  the  soft  refulgence  of  the 
holy  night  Jesus  and  his  companions 
stood  motionless,  rapt  in  the  uninter- 
pretable  consciousness  that  brooded 
upon  the  world.  Before  them  the  slopes 
of  Olivet,  dimly  checkered  with  its  fields 
and  vineyards,  spread  upward  toward 
Bethany.  Behind  them  the  Temple 
mount  rose  in  darkly  wooded  terraces, 
crowned  with  the  snow-white  sanctu- 

248 


An  Interpretation 

ary ;  and  about  them  in  mantling  peace 
was  the  quietude  of  the  orchard,  tinc- 
tured with  the  dreamful  fragrance  of 
its  encircling  garden. 

Folding  his  hands  before  him,  Jesua 
looked  out  upon  the  eastern  hills,  and  in 
a  voice  hushed  with  repression  he  ad- 
dressed his  three  disciples: 

''Here,  as  you  know,  have  I  often 
come  alone  to  pray  to  the  Father.  But 
on  this  night  have  I  not  the  strength  to 
bear  in  solitude  the  burden  of  my  soul. 
Will  you  not,  therefore,  bide  here  and 
watch  with  me?  I  am  sad  at  heart; 
sad  even  unto  death.  Yet  in  your 
presence  and  sustaining  faith  shall  I 
be  comforted  and  upheld. ' ' 

He  paused  and  gazed  fixedly  before 
him.  His  companions  offered  no  re- 
sponse. There  was  that  in  his  tone 
which  repelled  as  irreverent  any 

249 


The  Passover 

thought  of  uttered  comment.  With 
bowed  heads  they  awaited  silently  his 
further  will. 

"You  will  remember/'  he  continued, 
speaking  with  impressive  quietness, 
"that  at  our  supper  to-night  I  said  to 
you  that  I  would  be  with  you  but  a  little 
longer.  I  spoke  not  of  the  coming  year, 
nor  yet  of  the  coming  month — no, 
nor  even  of  the  morrow.  Already  the 
hour  is  at  hand  that  I  must  leave  you. 
Let  not  your  hearts  be  troubled  to  know 
why  this  must  be,  when  in  the  youth  of 
manhood's  strength  I  am  but  entered 
upon  the  Father's  work  and  there  yet 
lie  beyond  so  many  fruitful  years  of 
man's  allotted  life.  Be  not  disheart- 
ened. It  is  expedient  that  I  go  away. 

"It  is  for  your  sake  and  for  the  sake 
of  the  work  that  through  me  the  Father 
has  entrusted  to  your  hands,  that  I 
must  leave  you.  It  is  because  of  my 

250 


An  Interpretation 

love  for  you ;  because  I  would  have  you 
always  think  of  me  as  you  have  known 
me  up  to  this  hour.  And  let  the  surety 
of  my  love  remain  steadfast  in  the  re- 
membrance that  I  have  accounted  you 
my  friends,  and  that  no  greater  proof  of 
loving-kindness  can  there  be,  than  that 
a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends. 

"In  the  passing  of  time  all  things 
shall  be  made  clear  to  you.  Let  your 
faith  in  God  remain  forever  steadfast, 
and  believe  that  whatsoever  shall  come 
to  pass  shall  be  for  the  glory  of  the 
Father. 

"The  words  that  I  have  said  to  you 
and  the  things  that  you  shall  witness 
concerning  me,  though  you  know  not 
in  this  hour  how  to  interpret  them  to 
your  understanding,  hold  them  never- 
theless securely  in  your  hearts ;  for  the 
time  will  come  when  they  will  blossom, 
and  will  nourish  you,  and  will  be  unto 
251 


The  Passover 

you  a  guide  glorified  with  meaning  and 
with  power,  which  shall  uplift  you  and 
bring  you  even  yet  more  closely  unto 
me. 

"All  that  is  needful  have  I  now  said 
to  you,  and  I  am  finished.  Yet  this  will 
I  commend  to  you  once  more:  Pray 
that  you  be  not  tempted.  My  Father's 
work  is  henceforth  in  your  hands. 
See,  therefore,  that  you  cherish  it  and 
sanctify  it,  as  I  have  done  before  you, 
even  unto  the  giving  up  of  the  greatest 
of  all  earthly  joys  that  may  fall  to  the 
lot  of  man.  ...  I  can  speak  no 
more.  Bear  with  me.  Give  me  of  your 
love  and  confidence  and  share  with  me 
the  vigil  of  this  hour." 

In  mute  sympathy  and  acquiescence 
the  three  disciples  slowly  seated  them- 
selves upon  the  grass-covered  mound 
near  which  they  had  been  standing,  and 
bowed  each  his  head  upon  his  breast. 
252 


An  Interpretation 

Only  Peter  made  move  to  speak: 
"Master!"  he  cried  in  piteous  out- 
burst, reaching  forth  his  hand.  But 
his  voice  choked  and  he  could  say  no 
more. 

Jesus  himself  walked  forward  to  an 
open  space  a  little  beyond  them;  and 
here,  hidden  from  their  view  and  from 
sight  of  all  the  world,  sank  upon  the 
ground  with  a  convulsive  sob. 

•  •••••• 

The  perfume  of  orange  blossoms  and 
the  far-off  murmur  of  a  shepherd's 
song  among  the  slumbering  hills  made 
manifest  the  stillness  of  the  night. 
The  full-orbed  moon,  floating  now  in 
the  western  sky  in  a  sea  of  darkling 
clouds,  illumined  the  landscape  in  fitful 
paleness;  now  lighting  up  the  hill 
with  wan  distinctness  and  making  visi- 
ble in  varied  tones  of  shade  the  uprear- 
ing  walls  and  towers  of  the  Holy  City, 

253 


The  Passover 

and  again  covering  the  earth  with  the 
pall  of  a  passing  cloud,  black  in  its  omen 
of  storm. 

"0  Father,  remove  this  cup  from 
me!  Spare  me  the  further  torture  of 
this  agony!" 

The  creeping  shadows  had  trailed 
onward  upon  the  dial  of  night — on- 
ward, through  infinite  minutes  of  pain, 
toward  the  morning  hills.  For  nearly 
an  hour  the  lone  figure  upon  the  ground 
had  remained  prostrate  and  silent. 
But  now,  raising  his  head  and  holding 
up  his  tightly  clasped  hands  to  heaven, 
his  uncomforted  and  agonized  soul 
called  aloud  to  God  for  mercy.  His 
grief  had  passed  beyond  his  endurance. 
"And  yet,  0  Father,  if  this  cannot  pass 
away  except  I  drink  it,  Thy  will  be 
done." 

Rising  to  his  feet,  his  face  showing 
drawn  and  haggard  in  the  pale  glow  of 
254 


An  Interpretation 

the  moon,  he  moved  forward  with 
nervous,  hurried  steps  toward  his  com- 
panions ;  his  arms  outstretched  and  his 
lips  trembling  in  mute  beseechment. 

But  there  was  no  welcome,  no  re- 
sponse awaiting  him.  His  companions 
gave  no  heed  to  his  approach.  Over- 
come with  weariness,  they  lay  upon  the 
ground — asleep. 

He  drew  close,  and  spoke  to  them; 
called  them  each  by  name,  plaintively 
and  with  gentle  entreaty.  None  made 
answer.  Not  one  of  them  awoke  to 
the  appeal  that  stirred  the  night  with 
its  suffering  and  its  pathos:  "John — 
Peter — James — Do  you  not  hear  me? 
Could  you  not  watch  with  me  for  one 
hour?  Aye,  the  spirit  may  indeed  be 
willing,  but  behold  how  weak  is  the 
flesh!  Oh,  my  dear  friends,  pray  that 
you  be  not  tempted !  Watch  and  pray, 
that  you  be  spared  the  agony  that  is 

255 


The  Passover 

come  upon  me  to  bear  this  night — and 
to  bear  alone.  Yea,  forsaken  by  my 
friends  when  most  I  need  them,  do  I 
stand  utterly  alone  in  this  the  hour  that 
my  heart  is  crucified  and  the  shadow  of 
death  is  fallen  upon  me ! '  ' 

"Wearily  and  with  dragging  feet  he 
retraced  his  steps,  and  again  fell  upon 
his  knees  and  raised  his  face  to  heaven. 

"If,  0  Father,  it  has  been  Thy  will 
so  to  tempt  me,  so  to  try  me,  forsake 
me  not  in  this  the  hour  of  my  life's 
renunciation  for  Thy  sake!  Sustain 
me  lest  I  falter.  Give  to  me  of 
Thy  presence.  Uphold  my  battling 
strength  against  the  power  of  the  temp- 
tation that  besets  me.  To  Thee  all 
things  are  possible :  Let  now  this  cup 
pass  away.  Has  not  my  soul  fulfilled 
its  suffering!  Speak  to  me,  Father! 
Answer  me!  Answer  me!" 

it  but  a  grouping  of  the  shadows, 
256 


An  Interpretation 

framed  into  being  by  the  imagery  of  a 
troubled  mind,  or  did  his  gaze  reveal  to 
him  in  dim  reality  a  slender,  dark-clad 
figure  standing  upon  the  hillside  be- 
yond the  orchard  wall  1 

Half  doubtingly  he  stretched  forth  his 
wistful  hands.  The  image  grew  more 
distinct.  For  a  moment  it  appeared  to 
move,  to  draw  closer.  His  gaze  was 
strained  with  intensity.  Beneath  his 
tears  there  flashed  a  quickened,  eager 
light.  The  saddened  lines  upon  his 
face  grew  soft  with  sudden  brush  of 
warmth.  He  leaned  forward,  trem- 
bling, quivering;  and  holding  out  his 
arms  in  passionate  far-reaching,  as  if 
to  clasp  the  arms  outheld  toward  him 
in  answering  love  and  sympathy,  he 
seemed  about  to  cry  aloud  the  name 
that  hovered  on  his  lips. 

It  was  but  the  happening  of  an  in- 
stant. The  moon,  which  for  a  moment 

257 


The  Passover 

had  shone  through  a  clearing  in  the 
steadily  gathering  clouds,  was  again 
overcast  and  the  hillside  shrouded 
in  obscurity.  No  sound,  no  sign  gave 
token  from  the  darkness,  save  only 
the  distant  breathing  of  the  shepherd's 
call;  and  with  hands  outstretched 
toward  Bethany,  Jesus  continued  mo- 
tionless upon  his  knees. 

With  a  sudden  start  he  aroused  him- 
self and  rose  hastily  to  his  feet.  Fac- 
ing about  and  looking  into  the  shadows 
toward  Jerusalem,  he  saw  in  the  valley 
below  him  a  group  of  moving,  twink- 
ling lights.  Vaguely  and  confusedly 
there  came  to  him  the  murmur  of 
voices  and  muffled  footfalls.  It  was  an 
intrusion  upon  the  solitude  of  the  hour 
at  once  ominous  and  compelling. 

The  sounds  grew  rapidly  more  dis- 
tinct, while  the  lantern  lights,  flicker- 
ing and  agitated,  were  strung  into  file 
258 


An  Interpretation 

and  came  forward  up  the  hillside.  A 
body  of  men,  their  shadowy  forms  now 
and  again  partially  revealed  amid  the 
trees,  was  approaching  the  orchard. 
Armed  with  staves  and  with  drawn 
swords  which  flashed  in  the  lights  of 
the  lanterns,  they  ascended  the  path 
with  stealthy  tread;  quickening  their 
steps,  however,  as  they  advanced,  and 
following  in  hurried  disorder  the  guid- 
ance of  one  who  strode  darkly  in  ad- 
vance. 

Jesus  turned — hesitated — took  one 
impulsive  step  toward  his  slumbering 
companions — and  with  a  quivering 
moan  sank  to  the  earth,  crushed  and 
helpless. 

"Abba,  Father!  The  end  is  come. 
Unto  Thee  do  I  give  up  my  life  and  the 
world.  The  cup  that  Thou  gavest  me 
to  drink  have  I  finished  to  the  utter- 
most drop.  Thy  will  be  done." 
259 


The  Passover 

Slowly,  painfully,  he  lifted  his  head 
and  raised  his  eyes  in  supplicating 
question :  Was  there  to  be  for  him  no 
answer,  no  recognition? 

Again  the  moon  floated  in  the  clear 
blue  of  the  night.  The  gloom  of  the 
hills  melted  into  warm  and  tender 
shades,  and  the  earth  lay  glad  and 
softly  radiant  in  the  mellow  qui- 
etude. Slowly  the  tense  form  of  the 
suppliant  relaxed.  The  calm  that 
hovered  upon  the  night  descended 
as  with  enfolding  wings  and  rested 
upon  him.  His  eyes  grew  soft  with 
the  joyed  passing  of  pain.  A  light, 
beyond  the  giving  of  the  world,  over- 
spread his  countenance;  and,  as  one 
illumined  with  peace  and  the  under- 
standing of  all  things,  he  spread  forth 
his  arms  and  gazing  into  heaven 
smiled  back  to  the  Father. 

260 


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